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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the receipt and storage of a mail-in ballot. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 65, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Sections 65.016 and 65.017 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 65.016. The Elections Administrator may |
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electronically file mail-in ballot applications and mail-in |
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ballots. The electronically filed mail-in ballot applications and |
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mail-in ballots shall be sufficient for the Early Voting Ballot |
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Board to compare signatures between the mail-in ballot application |
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and the mail-in ballot. |
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Sec. 65.017. The Secretary of State also [has authority to] |
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may adopt administrative rules regarding the requirements for the |
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electronic image quality and storage of the electronic images of |
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the mail-in ballot applications and mail-in ballots. [to gain
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uniformity in interpretation of state election laws and
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procedures.] |
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SECTION 2. Section 84.007, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 84.007. Submitting Application for Ballot Voted by |
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Mail: General Rule (a) Except as provided by Sections 84.008 and |
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84.009, an application for a ballot to be voted by mail must be |
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submitted as provided by this section. |
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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) Electronic copy of the original application. |
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[telephonic facsimile machine, scanned images that are emailed if
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the applicant is absent from the county and if a machine is
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available in the clerk's office.] The Secretary of State may adopt |
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requirements for the quality of the electronic copies. |
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(c) An application must be submitted on or after the 60th |
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day before election day and before the close of regular business in |
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the early voting clerk's office or 12 noon, whichever is later, on |
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the seventh day before election day unless that day is a Saturday, |
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Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, in which case the last |
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day is the first preceding regular business day. |
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(d) An application is considered to be submitted at the time |
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of its receipt by the clerk. |