AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, a voter must submit a written, signed notice of the loss or destruction of the voter's registration certificate to the voter registrar in order to obtain a replacement certificate. Because alternate methods of communication are now commonplace, interested parties contend that allowing voters to use such methods to request a replacement certificate would be a natural transition and may even increase the number of registered voters who would otherwise be inconvenienced by the current process. H.B. 2263 seeks to ease the burden of obtaining a replacement voter registration certificate by providing additional methods of requesting a replacement certificate.

 

H.B. 2263 amends current law relating to requesting a replacement voter registration certificate by telephone or electronically.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 15.004, Election Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 15.004.  REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE.  (a)  Authorizes a voter whose registration certificate is lost or destroyed to obtain a replacement certificate by:

 

(1)  delivering a written or electronic notice, rather than a written and signed notice, of the loss or destruction to the registrar; or

 

(2)  telephoning the registrar to request a replacement.

 

Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

(b)  Authorizes a replacement certificate requested electronically under Subsection (a)(1) or by telephone under Subsection (a)(2) to be sent only to the mailing address on the voter's registration records.

 

(c)  Creates this subsection from text of existing Subsection (b). Requires the registrar, subject to Subsection (b), not later than the 30th day after the date the registrar receives the notice or request, to deliver to the voter a replacement certificate containing:

 

(1)  the registration number and other information on the lost or destroyed certificate; and

 

(2)  a notation that the certificate is a replacement.

 

Makes a nonsubstantive change.

 

(d)  Redesignates existing Subsection (c) as Subsection (d).  Requires the registrar to retain a written or electronic notice submitted under Subsection (a)(1) on file with the voter's registration application. Requires the registrar, if the voter requests a replacement registration certificate by telephone under Subsection (a)(2), to make a written record of the request and keep the record on file with the voter's registration application. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.