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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