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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the electronic submission and recording of documents |
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associated with voting by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 84.007(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) An application must be submitted to the early voting |
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clerk by: |
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(1) mail; |
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(2) common or contract carrier; or |
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(3) a means of sending an electronic copy prescribed |
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by the secretary of state [telephonic facsimile machine, if the
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applicant is absent from the county and if a machine is available in
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the clerk's office]. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 87, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 87.0211 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 87.0211. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF MATERIALS RECORDED |
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ELECTRONICALLY. If ballot materials and ballot applications are |
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recorded electronically as provided by Section 87.126, the early |
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voting clerk may deliver those materials to the early voting ballot |
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board through electronic means. |
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SECTION 3. Section 87.027, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (m) to read as follows: |
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(m) If ballot materials or ballot applications are recorded |
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electronically as provided by Section 87.126, the signature |
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verification committee may use an electronic copy of a carrier |
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envelope certificate or the voter's ballot application in making |
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the comparison under Subsection (i). |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter G, Chapter 87, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 87.126 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 87.126. ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF BALLOT MATERIALS AND |
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APPLICATIONS. (a) The early voting clerk may electronically |
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record applications for a ballot to be voted by mail, jacket |
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envelopes, carrier envelopes, and ballots. |
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(b) The secretary of state may adopt rules providing |
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requirements for the electronic image quality and storage of the |
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electronic images of the documents described by Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |