By: Anchia, Pena, Madden H.B. No. 536

(Senate Sponsor - Van de Putte)

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 14, 2009; April 27, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; May 6, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 6, 2009, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the voter registration of a person who submits a federal postcard application to vote in an election.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:

(h) The submission of a federal postcard application constitutes an application for registration under this section at the voting residence address stated on the application. This subsection does not apply to a person who indicates on the person's federal postcard application that the person is residing outside the United States indefinitely. The secretary of state shall prescribe rules to implement this subsection, including:

(1) rules providing directions to court clerks regarding the inclusion on jury lists of persons who submit federal postcard applications; and

(2) rules relating to whether a person who submits a federal postcard application is to be considered a registered voter of the applicable authority for the purposes of determining the number of signatures required on a petition.

SECTION 2. Section 101.006(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The submission of a federal postcard application that complies with the applicable requirements by an unregistered applicant constitutes registration by the applicant:

(1) [only] for the purpose of voting in the election for which a ballot is requested; and

(2) under Title 2 unless the person indicates on the application that the person is residing outside the United States indefinitely [each election that occurs on or before the date of the second general election for state and county officers that occurs after the date the application is submitted].

SECTION 3. Section 13.002(h), Election Code, as added by this Act, and Section 101.006(a), Election Code, as amended by this Act, apply to a federal postcard application that is received on or after September 1, 2009, without regard to the date the application is submitted.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

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