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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to automatic cancellation of a voter's registration upon |
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felony conviction. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 16.031, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The registrar shall cancel a voter's registration |
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immediately if the registrar receives notice from the secretary of |
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state under Section 18.068 that the voter has been convicted of a |
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felony. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 18.068(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), |
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Election Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the |
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information received under Sections [Section] 16.001 and 16.003 of |
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this code and Section 62.113, Government Code, to the statewide |
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computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines |
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that a voter on the registration list is deceased, has been |
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convicted of a felony, or has been excused or disqualified from jury |
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service because the voter is not a citizen, the secretary shall send |
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notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties |
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considered appropriate by the secretary. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall by rule determine what |
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information combinations identified as common to a voter and to an |
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individual who is deceased or has been convicted of a felony |
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constitute a weak match or a strong match in order to: |
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(1) produce the least possible impact on Texas voters; |
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and |
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(2) fulfill its responsibility to manage the voter |
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rolls. |
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(c) The secretary of state may not determine that a voter is |
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deceased or has been convicted of a felony based on a weak |
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match. The secretary of state may inform the county of the voter's |
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residence that a weak match exists. |
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(d) On receiving notification from the secretary of state |
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under Subsection (c) that a weak match of identifying information |
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exists for a county voter and an individual who is deceased or has |
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been convicted of a felony, the county shall investigate whether |
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the voter is the individual who is deceased or was convicted. |
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(e) The secretary of state may determine that a voter is |
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deceased or has been convicted of a felony based on a strong match. |
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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, 2017. |