Amend CSHB 2173 by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering the remaining SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____. Section 101.001, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 101.001. ELIGIBILITY. (a) A person is eligible for early voting by mail as provided by this chapter if:

(1) the person is qualified to vote in this state or, if not registered to vote in this state, would be qualified if registered; and

(A) a member of the armed forces of the United States, or the spouse or a dependent of a member;

(B) a member of the merchant marine of the United States, or the spouse or a dependent of a member; or

(C) domiciled in this state but temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) and Chapter 114, a person who indicates on a federal postcard application that the person is a United States citizen residing outside the United States indefinitely is entitled to vote a full ballot as provided by this chapter if the person is otherwise eligible to vote under this chapter and is a registered voter at the address contained on the application.

SECTION ____. Section 101.004, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (n) to read as follows:

(n) The early voting clerk shall provide notice to a person who indicates on a federal postcard application that the person is a United States citizen residing outside the United States indefinitely, other than a person described by Section 101.001(b), that as a result of the person's indication, the person is only eligible to vote a federal ballot as provided by Chapter 114. The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and manner of the notice provided under this subsection.

SECTION ____. Chapter 101, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 101.014 to read as follows:

Sec. 101.014. NOTICE ON COUNTY WEBSITE FOR CITIZENS RESIDING OUTSIDE OF UNITED STATES INDEFINITELY. If a county maintains an Internet website to provide information on voting, the website must include information that describes the effects on the ballot a person will receive under state law if the person indicates on a federal postcard application that the person is a United States citizen residing outside the United States indefinitely.

SECTION ____. Section 114.002, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 114.002. ELIGIBILITY. A United States citizen residing [~~dwelling~~] outside the United States is eligible to vote a federal ballot by mail if:

(1) the citizen's most recent domicile in the United States was in this state and the citizen is residing outside the United States indefinitely [~~citizen's intent to return to this state is uncertain~~];

(2) the citizen would be eligible for registration as a voter in this state if a resident; and

(3) the citizen is not eligible to vote on federal offices in any other state.

SECTION ____. The change in law made by this Act applies to a federal postcard application that requests a ballot for an election that is held on or after the effective date of this Act.

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