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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of a voter's thumbprint with a mailed |
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ballot. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 86.002, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: |
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(g) The clerk shall include with the balloting materials a |
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disposable fingerprint inked strip and instructions for the voter |
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to include a thumbprint on the ballot. |
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SECTION 2. Section 86.005(c), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) After marking the ballot and providing the thumbprint, |
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the voter must place the ballot [it] in the official ballot envelope |
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and then seal the ballot envelope, place the ballot envelope in the |
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official carrier envelope and then seal the carrier envelope, and |
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sign the certificate on the carrier envelope. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 87, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 87.028 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 87.028. THUMBPRINT VERIFICATION COMMITTEE. (a) A |
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thumbprint verification committee may be appointed in the same |
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manner as a signature verification committee. A thumbprint |
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verification committee may, subject to the same restrictions as the |
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signature verification committee with respect to signatures, |
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determine whether the thumbprint submitted is that of the voter if |
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another sample of the voter's thumbprint from the same hand is |
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available for comparison. |
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(b) The secretary of state may establish methods to obtain |
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thumbprints of as many voters as possible for the purpose of this |
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section including entering into agreements with the Department of |
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Public Safety and other state agencies and governmental entities to |
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provide thumbprints. |
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SECTION 4. Section 87.041(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A ballot may be accepted only if: |
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(1) the carrier envelope certificate is properly |
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executed; |
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(2) neither the voter's signature on the ballot |
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application nor the signature on the carrier envelope certificate |
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is determined to have been executed by a person other than the |
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voter, unless signed by a witness; |
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(3) the voter's ballot application states a legal |
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ground for early voting by mail; |
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(4) the voter is registered to vote, if registration |
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is required by law; |
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(5) the address to which the ballot was mailed to the |
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voter, as indicated by the application, was outside the voter's |
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county of residence, if the ground for early voting is absence from |
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the county of residence; |
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(6) for a voter to whom a statement of residence form |
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was required to be sent under Section 86.002(a), the statement of |
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residence is returned in the carrier envelope and indicates that |
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the voter satisfies the residence requirements prescribed by |
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Section 63.0011; [and] |
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(7) the address to which the ballot was mailed to the |
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voter is an address that is otherwise required by Sections 84.002 |
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and 86.003; and |
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(8) the voter has submitted a thumbprint, and if a |
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thumbprint verification committee was appointed, the thumbprint |
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has not been determined to belong to a person other than the voter. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |