78R705 DRH-D

By:  Denny                                                        H.B. No. 307



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the availability of certain records pertaining to 
ballots to be voted by mail. 
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 86.014(a), Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	(a)  A copy of an application for a ballot to be voted by mail 
may be obtained from the early voting clerk not earlier than[:
		[(1)  72 hours after the time a ballot is mailed to the 
voter;  or
		[(2)  48 hours after the time a ballot is mailed to the 
voter if the mailing occurs on the fourth day before] election day.
	SECTION 2.  Section 87.121(f), Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	(f)  Information on the roster for a person to whom an early 
voting mail ballot has been sent is not available for public 
inspection, except to the voter seeking to verify that the 
information pertaining to the voter is accurate, until[:
		[(1)  72 hours after the time a ballot is mailed to the 
voter;  or
		[(2)  48 hours after the time a ballot is mailed to the 
voter if the mailing occurs on the fourth day before] election day.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to an election for which the action ordering the 
election is taken on or after that date.