AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current procedures, a voter can be placed on the voter suspense list for reasons such as failure to respond to a registrar confirmation notice, return of the voter's renewal certificate to the registrar as undeliverable, or circumstances related to residency. A voter on the suspense list is still eligible to vote and can be reinstated if the voter completes a residence statement at the polls or at the election office. However, if the voter is on the suspense list for two federal election cycles without voting, a voter's registration may be canceled and reinstated only by completing a new voter registration application.
Interested parties assert that a voter who is on the suspense list should have every opportunity to easily determine that status and reinstate the voter's registration before it is purged without the voter's knowledge. H.B. 2465 requires the secretary of state to provide such an opportunity through the Internet.
H.B. 2465 amends current law relating to the secretary of state providing information to voters regarding their voting status through an Internet website.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 15, Election Code, by adding Section 15.086, as follows:
Sec. 15.086. INTERNET ACCESS TO SUSPENSE INFORMATION. Requires that any Internet website maintained by the secretary of state that permits a person to determine the person's voter registration status, to the extent practicable, indicate if the person is or may be on the suspense list.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.