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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the registration of individuals who assist in certain |
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early voting procedures; providing a criminal penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 86.010(a) and (e), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A voter casting a ballot by mail who would be eligible |
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under Section 64.031 to receive assistance at a polling place may |
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select a person as provided by Section 64.032(c) or a person who is |
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registered under Section 86.015 to assist the voter in preparing |
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the ballot. |
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(e) A person who assists a voter to prepare a ballot to be |
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voted by mail shall enter the person's signature, printed name, |
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telephone number, and residence address on the official carrier |
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envelope of the voter. |
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SECTION 2. 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. EARLY VOTING ASSISTANT REGISTRATION. (a) A |
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person who assists more than five voters in an election with the |
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preparation of their ballots under this chapter must register as an |
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early voting assistant. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall prescribe an early voting |
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assistant registration form. The form must include: |
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(1) a space for the person's name, signature, address, |
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telephone number, and voter registration number and the date of |
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signing; |
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(2) the oath prescribed by Section 64.034; and |
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(3) a space for the person to indicate whether the |
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person has ever been convicted of an offense in connection with |
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conduct directly attributable to an election. |
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(c) Each person required to register under this section |
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shall file the form required by Subsection (b) with the early voting |
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clerk. A registration filed under this section expires on December |
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31 of each odd-numbered year. |
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(d) The early voting clerk shall maintain current |
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registrations in a file that is available to the public for |
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inspection. |
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(e) Subsection (a) does not apply if the person assisting a |
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voter is: |
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(1) related to the voter within the second degree by |
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affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as determined under |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 573, Government Code; |
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(2) registered to vote at the same address as the |
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voter; |
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(3) employed by the nursing home or other long-term |
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care facility or retirement center in which the voter resides; |
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(4) employed by the hospital in which the voter is a |
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patient at the time the assistance is provided; or |
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(5) an early voting clerk or deputy early voting |
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clerk. |
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(f) A person is ineligible for registration under this |
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section if the person has been finally convicted of an offense in |
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connection with conduct directly attributable to an election. |
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(g) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly |
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violates Subsection (a). An offense under this subsection is a |
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Class A misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010. |