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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to voting outside the county of residence. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 86, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 86.015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 86.015. ELECTRONIC MAIL BALLOT ALTERNATIVE. (a) |
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a voter may |
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submit an electronic mail ballot during the period for early voting |
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or on election day if: |
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(1) the voter applied for a ballot to be voted by mail |
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on the ground of absence from the county of residence and the voter |
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did not receive the ballot in time to return it by election day; |
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(2) due to unforeseen circumstances, the voter is |
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absent from the county of residence during the period for early |
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voting and on election day; or |
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(3) the voter is absent from the county of residence |
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and, during the period in which the voter may apply for a ballot to |
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be voted by mail, the voter is unable to provide an address outside |
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the voter's county of residence because the voter is unable to |
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predict the voter's location on election day and during early |
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voting by personal appearance. |
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(b) An electronic mail ballot submitted under this section |
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must have a unique identifying number that allows the voter to cast |
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the ballot without indicating the voter's identity in connection |
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with the vote cast. |
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(c) An electronic mail ballot must be submitted to the early |
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voting clerk of the voter's county of residence. |
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(d) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the |
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provisions applicable to early voting by mail ballots apply to an |
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electronic mail ballot under this section. |
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(e) The secretary of state shall prescribe any additional |
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procedures necessary to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 112.002, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: |
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(g) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or Section 112.006, if a |
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voter changed residence on or after the 30th day before election |
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day, the voter may vote a limited ballot by personal appearance on |
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election day in the election precinct in which the voter is |
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registered. The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to |
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implement this subsection. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |