By: Thompson of Harris (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 396

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013; May 7, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; May 14, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 14, 2013, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing a federal postcard applicant with a ballot for certain elections in which the applicant is eligible to vote.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 101.054, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(a) A person may apply with a single federal postcard application for a ballot for any one or more elections in which the person is eligible to vote as provided by this section [the early voting clerk to whom the application is submitted conducts early voting].

(b) An application that does not identify the election for which a ballot is requested shall be treated as if it requests a ballot for:

(1) except as provided by Subdivision (3), each general election in which the clerk conducts early voting; [and]

(2) the general primary election if the application indicates party preference and is submitted to the early voting clerk for the primary; and

(3) each general or special election held by a county, a municipality, or an independent school district within one calendar year after the date the application is received and in which the person is eligible to vote.

(b-1) If an application under Subsection (b) indicates the person is eligible to vote in an election described by Subsection (b)(3) in which the early voting clerk who received the application does not conduct early voting, the clerk shall forward a copy of the application in a form prescribed by the secretary of state to each early voting clerk who conducts early voting for that election.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

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