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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an electronic application for voter registration and a |
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ballot to be voted by mail. |
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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. The websites of the secretary |
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of state and the Department of Public Safety must also provide a |
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link to the location of the application on the official website of |
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this state. |
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(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration who has |
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an unexpired 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) affirmatively consent to the use of the signature |
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on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card |
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for voter registration purposes. |
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(c) An applicant for electronic voter registration who does |
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not have an unexpired driver's license or personal identification |
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card 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 registration application from the website |
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the applicant is using to register, sign the application, and mail |
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it to the registrar. |
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(d) The program must allow an applicant to: |
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(1) indicate whether the applicant is eligible for a |
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ballot to be voted by mail; and |
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(2) if the applicant is eligible, complete an |
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application for a ballot to be voted by mail as part of the |
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registration process. |
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(e) For each application submitted under Subsection (b), |
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the program shall: |
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(1) require that a digital copy of the applicant's |
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signature be obtained from the Department of Public Safety; and |
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(2) compare the information provided by the applicant |
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against Department of Public Safety records. |
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(f) For each application submitted under Subsection (c), |
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the program shall provide the applicant with: |
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(1) a registration application that the applicant can |
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print from the registration website, sign, and mail to the |
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registrar as 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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(g) If the information submitted by an applicant under |
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Subsection (b) does not match Department of Public Safety records, |
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the program shall: |
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(1) notify the applicant that the application cannot |
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be processed electronically; and |
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(2) advise the applicant to print an application and |
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submit it to the voter registrar of the county in which the |
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applicant resides by mail or personal delivery. |
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(h) If the information submitted by an applicant under |
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Subsection (b) matches Department of Public Safety records, the |
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program shall forward the application to the registrar of the |
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county in which the applicant states that the applicant resides. |
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(i) On receipt of an application under Subsection (h), the |
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registrar shall review the application in accordance with Section |
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13.071. |
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(j) The program must allow an applicant, at any time, to |
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print the application for completion and submission to the voter |
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registrar by mail or personal delivery. |
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(k) An application electronically submitted under this |
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section is considered for all purposes as an application submitted |
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by mail under this title. |
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(l) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section, including rules to: |
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(1) provide for additional security measures |
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necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of applications |
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submitted electronically; and |
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(2) ensure that an application for a ballot to be voted |
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by mail that is submitted under this section is forwarded as soon as |
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possible to the appropriate early voting clerk. |
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(m) The rules adopted under Subsection (l) must require |
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that: |
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(1) the Internet website through which a person may |
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complete a voter registration application include a description of |
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the offense described by Section 13.007 in a conspicuous location |
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on the website near the place where the person begins or submits the |
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application; and |
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(2) the state electronic Internet portal project be |
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used to authenticate the identity of a person who submits an |
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application electronically under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 84.007(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) An application must be submitted to the early voting |
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clerk by: |
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(1) mail; |
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(2) common or contract carrier; [or] |
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(3) telephonic facsimile machine, if a machine is |
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available in the clerk's office; or |
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(4) electronic means under Section 13.009. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |