By:  Madden (Senate Sponsor - Staples)                            H.B. No. 1597
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 14, 2003; 
April 15, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on State 
Affairs; May 23, 2003, reported favorably by the following vote:  
Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 23, 2003, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of federal write-in absentee ballots by military and overseas personnel. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 105, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 105.003 to read as follows: Sec. 105.003. USE OF FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE. The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to allow a voter who qualifies to vote by a federal write-in absentee ballot to vote through use of a federal write-in absentee ballot in any general, special, primary, or runoff election for federal office. SECTION 2. The chapter heading to Chapter 105, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 105. VOTING BY MILITARY PERSONNEL OR OTHER PERSONS OVERSEAS
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
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