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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to signature verification on an early voting ballot voted |
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by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 87.027(i), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(i) The signature verification committee shall compare the |
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signature on each carrier envelope certificate, except those signed |
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for a voter by a witness, with any two or more signatures of the |
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voter made within the preceding six years and on file with the |
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general custodian of election records or voter registrar [the
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signature on the voter's ballot application] to determine whether |
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the signatures are those of the same person. The committee may also |
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compare the signatures with any two or more signatures of the voter |
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made before the preceding six years and on file with the general |
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custodian of election records or voter registrar [the signature on
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the voter's registration application] to confirm that the |
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signatures are those of the same person but may not use the |
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signatures [registration application signature] to determine that |
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the signatures are not those of the same person. Except as provided |
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by Subsection (l), a determination under this subsection that the |
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signatures are not those of the same person must be made by a |
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majority vote of the committee's membership. The committee shall |
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place the jacket envelopes, carrier envelopes, and applications of |
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voters whose signatures are not those of the same person in separate |
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containers from those of voters whose signatures are those of the |
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same person. The committee chair shall deliver the sorted |
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materials to the early voting ballot board at the time specified by |
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the board's presiding judge. |
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SECTION 2. Section 87.041, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(e) In making the determination under Subsection (b)(2), |
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the board may also compare the signatures with any two or more |
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signatures of the voter made within the preceding six years and on |
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file with the general custodian of election records or voter |
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registrar to determine if [confirm that] the signatures are those |
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of the same person [but may not use the signatures to determine that
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the signatures are not those of the same person]. |
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(e-1) In making the determination under Subsection (b)(2), |
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the board may also compare the signatures with any two or more |
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signatures of the voter made before the preceding six years and on |
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file with the general custodian of election records or voter |
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registrar to confirm that the signatures are those of the same |
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person but may not use the signatures to determine that the |
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signatures are not those of the same person. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |