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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to publicizing a list of voters' rights. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 62.0115, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.0115. PUBLIC NOTICE OF VOTERS' RIGHTS. (a) The |
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secretary of state shall adopt an official voters' bill of rights |
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and rules providing for publicizing those voters' rights as |
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prescribed by this section. The rules: |
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(1) must require that a notice of those rights be |
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publicized: |
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(A) [(1)] by being posted by an election officer |
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in a prominent location at each polling place in the manner required |
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by Subsection (d); |
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(B) [(2)] on the Internet website of the |
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secretary of state; and |
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(C) [(3)] through any material distributed |
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[published] by the secretary of state to the media as part of |
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election coverage; and [or] |
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(2) [(4)] may require that a notice of those rights be |
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distributed in any [another] manner designed to give voters notice |
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of their rights, including by distributing the materials with any |
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other materials furnished to voters by the secretary of state or |
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other election officers. |
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(b) Except as revised by the secretary of state under |
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Subsection (e) [(d)], the notice must state that a voter has the |
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right to: |
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(1) vote a ballot and view written instructions on how |
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to cast a ballot; |
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(2) vote in secret and free from intimidation; |
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(3) receive up to two additional ballots if the voter |
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mismarks, damages, or otherwise spoils a ballot; |
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(4) request instructions on how to cast a ballot, but |
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not to receive suggestions on how to vote; |
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(5) bring an interpreter to translate the ballot and |
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any instructions from election officials; |
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(6) receive assistance in casting the ballot if the |
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voter: |
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(A) has a physical disability that renders the |
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voter unable to write or see; or |
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(B) cannot read the language in which the ballot |
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is written; |
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(7) cast a ballot on executing an affidavit as |
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provided by law, if the voter's eligibility to vote is questioned; |
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(8) report an existing or potential abuse of voting |
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rights to the secretary of state or the local election official; |
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(9) except as provided by Section 85.066(b), Election |
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Code, vote at any early voting location in the county in which the |
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voter resides in an election held at county expense, a primary |
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election, or a special election ordered by the governor; [and] |
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(10) file an administrative complaint with the |
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secretary of state concerning a violation of federal or state |
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voting procedures; and |
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(11) vote after the polls close if the voter is in line |
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to vote when the polls close. |
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(c) The notice must also state: |
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(1) the information relating to the voting rights |
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hotline required under Section 31.0055; |
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(2) the qualifications that an individual must meet to |
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vote in this state, including the qualifications relating to |
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registration; |
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(3) the circumstances that permit a voter who has |
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moved from the precinct in which the voter is registered to vote at |
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that precinct; |
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(4) the date of the election and the hours during which |
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the polls will be open; |
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(5) for notice publicized as required by Subsection |
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(a)(1)(B) or (C) or authorized by Subsection (a)(2), instructions |
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for persons voting early by mail; |
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(6) general information on federal and state laws |
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prohibiting voter fraud and misrepresentation; |
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(7) what circumstances will spoil a ballot; and |
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(8) [(2)] any other information that the secretary of |
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state considers important for a voter to know. |
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(d) Two posters that are at least 18 by 24 inches and that |
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contain the notice required by this section must be posted at each |
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polling place. One poster must be written in English and one poster |
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must be written in Spanish. |
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(e) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and |
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content of the notice in accordance with this section. The |
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secretary of state shall revise the content of the notice as |
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necessary to ensure that the notice accurately reflects the law in |
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effect at the time the notice is publicized. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section |
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62.0115, Election Code, apply only to an election ordered on or |
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after September 1, 2007. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |