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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the electronic transmission of balloting materials for |
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an election to certain voters located outside this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 84.011(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The officially prescribed application form for an early |
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voting ballot must include: |
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(1) immediately preceding the signature space the |
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statement: "I certify that the information given in this |
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application is true, and I understand that giving false information |
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in this application is a crime."; |
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(2) a statement informing the applicant of the |
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offenses prescribed by Sections 84.003 and 84.004; |
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(3) spaces for entering an applicant's voter |
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registration number and county election precinct of registration, |
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with a statement informing the applicant that failure to furnish |
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that information does not invalidate the application; and |
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(4) on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail: |
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(A) a space for an applicant applying on the |
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ground of absence from the county of residence to indicate the date |
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on or after which the applicant can receive mail at the address |
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outside the county; |
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(B) a space for indicating the fact that an |
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applicant whose application is signed by a witness cannot make the |
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applicant's mark and a space for indicating the relationship or |
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lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant; |
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(C) a space for entering an applicant's telephone |
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number, with a statement informing the applicant that failure to |
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furnish that information does not invalidate the application; |
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(D) a space or box for an applicant applying on |
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the ground of age or disability to indicate that the address to |
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which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or |
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relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), if applicable; |
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(E) a space or box for an applicant applying on |
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the ground of confinement in jail to indicate that the address to |
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which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a relative |
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described by Section 84.002(a)(4), if applicable; |
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(F) spaces for entering the signature, printed |
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name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant; |
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(G) a statement informing the applicant of the |
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condition prescribed by Section 81.005; [and] |
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(H) a statement informing the applicant of the |
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requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c); and |
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(I) a statement informing an applicant who |
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provides an address under Paragraph (A), (D), or (E) to which the |
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application is to be mailed that is located outside the state that |
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the applicant can choose to receive the application by e-mail |
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transmission and a space for entering an e-mail address for this |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 2. Section 86.003, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the [The] |
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balloting materials for voting by mail shall be provided to the |
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voter by mail. A ballot provided by any other method may not be |
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counted. |
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(e) A voter is entitled to have the balloting materials sent |
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by electronic transmission to the voter as provided by Subchapter |
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C, Chapter 101, for an election to which that subchapter applies, if |
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the voter's application for an early voting ballot to be voted by |
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mail: |
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(1) cites a ground for voting by mail listed in |
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Subsection (c); |
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(2) provides an address for the balloting materials to |
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be sent to that is located outside of this state; and |
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(3) provides an e-mail address. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |