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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain early voting procedures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 67.003(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), each local |
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canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at |
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the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer [For
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an election held on the uniform election date in May, the
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local
canvass must occur] not later than the 11th day after |
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election day and not earlier than the later of: |
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(1) the third day after election day; |
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(2) the date on which the early voting ballot board has |
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verified and counted all provisional ballots, if a provisional |
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ballot has been cast in the election; or |
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(3) the date on which all timely received ballots cast |
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from addresses outside of the United States are counted, if a ballot |
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to be voted by mail in the election was provided to a person outside |
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of the United States. |
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SECTION 2. Section 84.011, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) In addition to the requirements imposed by Subsection |
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(a), the officially prescribed application form for an early voting |
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ballot must include a space for the voter to provide a change of |
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residence address within the county, if applicable. |
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SECTION 3. Section 86.001, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) If the application includes a change of address within |
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the county, the early voting clerk shall notify the voter registrar |
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of the change and the registrar shall update the voter's |
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registration accordingly. |
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SECTION 4. |
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Section 86.002, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the clerk is not |
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required to provide a form for a statement of residence to a voter |
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who indicated a change of address within the county on the voter's |
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application for an early voting ballot to be voted by mail. |
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SECTION 5. Section 101.057, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 101.057. RETURN OF VOTED BALLOT. (a) A ballot voted |
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under this subchapter may be returned to the early voting clerk by |
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mail, common or contract carrier, or courier. |
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(b) A ballot voted by a voter described by Section |
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101.001(2)(A) or (B) shall be counted if the ballot arrives at the |
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address on the carrier envelope not later than the sixth day after |
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the date of the election, except that if that date falls on a |
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Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, then the |
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deadline is extended to the next regular business day. |
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SECTION 6. Section 67.003(a), Election Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |