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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a program allowing certain military voters on active |
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duty overseas to cast a ballot electronically. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 105, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 105.004 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 105.004. E-MAIL BALLOT PROGRAM. (a) The secretary of |
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state shall implement a program to allow a person who is casting an |
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early voting ballot by mail to return the ballot by e-mail if the |
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person is a member of the armed forces of the United States who is on |
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active duty overseas and eligible for hostile fire pay. The |
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secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to provide for a |
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process implemented under this section to require: |
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(1) the voter to print the ballot, print and sign a |
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voter signature form, and then scan the documents before submitting |
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them by e-mail; and |
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(2) secure processing of ballots, including requiring |
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the use of a voter's military e-mail address and common access card, |
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or other measures the secretary of state considers appropriate. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall select to participate in |
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the program a county that: |
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(1) desires to participate in the program; and |
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(2) is determined by the secretary of state to have the |
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appropriate technological capabilities. |
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(c) The secretary of state shall operate the program |
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established under Subsection (a) as a pilot program until September |
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1, 2015. |
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(d) Not later than January 1, 2015, the secretary of state |
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shall file a report with the legislature. The report may include |
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the secretary of state's recommendations on the future use of |
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e-mail ballot submission by members of the armed forces of the |
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United States and suggestions for permanent statutory authority |
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regarding e-mail ballot submission by members of the armed forces |
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of the United States. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |