79R4659 ATP-D

By:  Talton                                                       H.B. No. 1994



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the offense of assisting multiple voters who cast a 
ballot by mail.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 86, Election Code, is amended by adding 
Section 86.0101 to read as follows:
	Sec. 86.0101.  UNLAWFULLY ASSISTING MORE THAN ONE 
VOTER.  (a)  A person commits an offense if, in the same election, 
the person assists more than one voter casting a ballot by mail.
	(b)  It is an exception to the application of Subsection (a) 
that the person who assisted the voter is:
		(1)  an early voting clerk or deputy early voting clerk 
acting in an official capacity; or
		(2)  related to each additional assisted voter as a 
parent, grandparent, spouse, child, or sibling.
	(c)  A violation of this section does not affect the validity 
of a ballot involved in the offense.
	(d)  Each ballot for which the person gives assistance in 
violation of this section constitutes a separate offense.
	(e)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.            
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.