| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the requirements for an official carrier envelope for a |
|
|
ballot to be voted by mail and materials accompanying the official |
|
|
carrier envelope. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Sections 86.013(c), (d), and (g), Election Code, |
|
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) A certificate in substantially the following form must |
|
|
be printed on the reverse side of the official carrier envelope in a |
|
|
manner that requires the voter to sign across the flap of the |
|
|
envelope: |
|
|
"I certify that the enclosed ballot expresses my wishes |
|
|
independent of any dictation or undue persuasion by any person. |
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Signature of voter |
|
|
By: ____________________________ |
|
|
Signature of person assisting |
|
|
voter, if applicable (see Ballot |
|
|
Envelope for restrictions and |
|
|
penalties) |
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Printed name of person assisting |
|
|
voter, if applicable |
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Residence address of person |
|
|
assisting voter, if applicable" |
|
|
The space provided for the voter's signature must be located in a |
|
|
box that is at least one inch by two inches, and "Signature of |
|
|
voter" must be printed in bold type. |
|
|
(d) The following textual material, as prescribed by the |
|
|
secretary of state, must be printed [on the reverse side of the
|
|
|
official carrier envelope or] on a separate sheet accompanying the |
|
|
carrier envelope [when it is provided]: |
|
|
(1) the prohibition prescribed by Section 86.006(b); |
|
|
(2) the conditions for delivery by common or contract |
|
|
carrier prescribed by Sections 81.005 and 86.006; |
|
|
(3) the requirements for the legal execution and |
|
|
delivery of the carrier envelope, including the prohibition on |
|
|
compensation for depositing carrier envelopes containing ballots |
|
|
voted by other persons under Section 86.0052; |
|
|
(4) the prohibition prescribed by Section 86.006(e); |
|
|
and |
|
|
(5) the offenses prescribed by Sections 86.006(f) and |
|
|
86.010(f). |
|
|
(g) The secretary of state by rule shall require that a |
|
|
notice informing voters of the telephone number established under |
|
|
Section 31.0055 and the purpose of the telephone number be printed |
|
|
on[:
|
|
|
[(1) the official carrier envelope; or
|
|
|
[(2)] an insert enclosed with the balloting materials |
|
|
for voting by mail sent to the voter. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
|
|
an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
|
|
election ordered before the effective date of this Act is governed |
|
|
by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and the former |
|
|
law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |