|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the eligibility of certain overseas voters to receive a |
|
full ballot. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. 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 |
|
(2) the person is: |
|
(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 2. 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. |
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |