78R2249 JRJ-D

By:  Jones of Dallas                                              H.B. No. 490



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of a receipt issued by certain voter 
registration entities to a person on completing an application for 
voter registration.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Sections 13.040(a), (b), and (d), Election Code, 
are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  On receipt of a completed registration application, a 
volunteer deputy registrar shall prepare a receipt in triplicate
[duplicate] on a form furnished by the registrar.
	(b)  The receipt must contain:                                                 
		(1)  the name of the applicant and, if applicable, the 
name of the applicant's agent; [and]
		(2)  the address of the applicant, including the city 
and postal zip code;
		(3)  the date the completed application is submitted to 
the volunteer deputy; and
		(4)  the following statement:  "This is an official 
receipt of an application to register to vote.  This receipt may be 
submitted by a voter in place of a voter registration certificate in 
an election that occurs at least 30 days after the date the 
application to register is completed."[.]
	(d)  The volunteer deputy shall retain one copy of the 
receipt and deliver the remaining copy [duplicate receipt] to the 
registrar with the registration application.  The registrar shall 
retain the receipt on file with the application.
	SECTION 2.  Section 63.006, Election Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  A voter who, when offering to vote, presents a receipt 
of an application to register to vote issued under Section 13.040 
shall be accepted for voting under this section if:
		(1)  the application was made on or after the 90th day 
and before the 29th day preceding the date of the election;
		(2)  the address indicated on the receipt indicates 
that the voter is a resident of the precinct in which the voter is 
offering to vote or is otherwise entitled by law to vote in that 
precinct;
		(3)  the voter completes a voter registration 
application at the polling place; and
		(4)  the election judge reviews the voter registration 
application.  
	SECTION 3.  Section 63.008, Election Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as 
follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a [A] voter who 
does not present a voter registration certificate when offering to 
vote, but whose name is on the list of registered voters for the 
precinct in which the voter is offering to vote, shall be accepted 
for voting if the voter executes an affidavit stating that the voter 
does not have the voter's voter registration certificate in the 
voter's possession at the polling place at the time of offering to 
vote and:
		(1)  the voter presents proof of identification in a 
form described by Section 63.0101; or
		(2)  the affidavit is also signed by a person who is 
working at the polling place and who attests to the identity of the 
voter.
	(c)  A voter who, when offering to vote, presents a receipt 
of an application to register to vote issued under Section 13.040 
and whose name is on the list of registered voters for the precinct 
in which the voter is offering to vote shall be accepted for voting 
under Section 63.001 if:
		(1)  the application was made on or after the 90th day 
and before the 29th day preceding the date of the election; and
		(2)  the address indicated on the receipt indicates 
that the voter is a resident of the precinct in which the voter is 
offering to vote or is otherwise entitled by law to vote in that 
precinct.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.