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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to electronic voter registration. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.009. ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The |
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secretary of state shall implement a program to allow a person to |
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complete a voter registration application over the Internet from |
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the official website of this state and the websites of the secretary |
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of state, the Department of Public Safety, and counties |
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participating in the program. |
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(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration who has a |
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valid driver's license or personal identification card issued in |
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this state must: |
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(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on |
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the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true; |
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and |
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(2) affirmatively consent to the use of the address |
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and signature on the applicant's driver's license or personal |
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identification card for voter registration purposes. |
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(c) An applicant for electronic voter registration who does |
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not have a valid driver's license or personal identification card |
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issued in this state must: |
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(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on |
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the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true; |
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and |
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(2) print a signature card from the website the |
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applicant is using to register, sign the card, and mail it to the |
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registrar. |
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(d) For each application submitted under Subsection (b), |
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the program shall require that a digital copy of the applicant's |
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signature be obtained from the Department of Public Safety. |
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(e) For each application submitted under Subsection (c), |
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the program shall provide the applicant with: |
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(1) a signature card that the applicant can print from |
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the registration website, sign, and mail to the registrar as |
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required under Subsection (c)(2); and |
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(2) information about how the applicant can obtain a |
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driver's license or personal identification card from the |
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Department of Public Safety. |
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(f) An application submitted under this section is |
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considered for all purposes as an application submitted by mail |
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under this title. |
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(g) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section, including rules to provide for additional |
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security measures necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of |
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applications submitted electronically. |
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(h) The rules adopted under Subsection (g) must require that |
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each Internet website through which a person may complete a voter |
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registration application include a description of the offense |
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described by Section 13.007 in a conspicuous location on the |
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website near the place where the person begins or submits the |
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application. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |