By:  Baxter, et al.                                               H.B. No. 2914



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain procedures involving the use of ballots for 
early voting by mail.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 84.032, Election Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
	(e)  A request for cancellation in a manner other than as 
authorized by this section, including a request by letter, has no 
effect.
	SECTION 2.  Section 86.004, Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows:    
	Sec. 86.004.  TIME FOR PROVIDING BALLOT TO VOTER. The 
balloting materials for voting by mail shall be mailed to a voter 
entitled to vote by mail not later than the seventh calendar day 
after the later of the date the clerk accepts the voter's 
application for a ballot to be voted by mail or the date [voters as 
soon as practicable after] the ballots become available for 
mailing, except that if that mailing date is [but not] earlier than 
the 45th day before election day, the balloting materials shall be 
mailed not later than the 38th day before election day.
	SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                      
	(b)  The change in law made by this Act to Section 86.004, 
Election Code, applies only to an application to vote an early 
voting ballot by mail submitted for an election that is ordered on 
or after the effective date of this Act.