79R3671 ATP-F
By: Bohac H.B. No. 3294
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to provisional voting by a person who applied for an early
voting ballot by mail.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 63.011, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as
follows:
(a-1) A person to whom the early voting clerk was required
to provide an early voting ballot by mail under Section 86.001 and
who did not vote early by mail may cast a provisional ballot on
election day if the person executes an affidavit stating that the
person:
(1) is a registered voter in the precinct in which the
person seeks to vote; and
(2) did not vote early by mail.
(b) A form for the affidavits required by Subsections (a)
and (a-1) [affidavit] shall be printed on an envelope in which the
provisional ballot voted by the person may be placed and must
include a space for entering the identification number of the
provisional ballot voted by the person. The affidavit form may
include space for disclosure of any necessary information to enable
the person to register to vote under Chapter 13. The secretary of
state shall prescribe the form of the affidavit under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 65.054(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A provisional ballot may be accepted only if the board
determines that, from the information in the affidavit or contained
in public records, the person:
(1) is eligible to vote in the election; and
(2) did not vote early by mail, if the person cast a
provisional ballot under Section 63.011(a-1).
SECTION 3. Section 84.032, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
follows:
(b) A request must:
(1) be in writing and signed by the applicant;
(2) specify the election for which the application was
made; and
(3) except as provided by Subsection (c), (d), [or]
(e), or (g), be received by the early voting clerk:
(A) not later than the third day before election
day; and
(B) if an early voting ballot sent to the
applicant is returned to the clerk as a marked ballot, before the
marked ballot's arrival at the address on the carrier envelope.
(g) An applicant who did not vote early by mail may submit a
request to the presiding election judge on election day at the
applicant's precinct polling place by appearing in person, if the
applicant casts a provisional ballot and executes an affidavit
under Section 63.011(a-1).
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an election held on or after October 1, 2005.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect October 1, 2005.