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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an application for a 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. Section 86.001, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b) and (g) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), if [If] the |
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applicant is entitled to vote an early voting ballot by mail, the |
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clerk shall provide an official ballot to the applicant as provided |
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by this chapter. |
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(b-1) This subsection applies only to an early voting clerk |
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who does not electronically record applications for a ballot to be |
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voted by mail under Section 87.126. If the clerk has previously |
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provided the applicant with an official ballot for the election for |
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which the applicant requests a ballot and the clerk has not already |
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delivered notice under this subsection, the clerk shall deliver |
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written notice to the applicant, at both the residence address and |
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the mailing address on the application, that states: |
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(1) a ballot to be voted by mail was previously |
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provided to the applicant; and |
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(2) the date the ballot was provided. |
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(g) If a ballot is provided to the applicant, the clerk |
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shall indicate beside the applicant's name on the list of |
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registered voters that a ballot to be voted by mail was provided to |
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the applicant and the date of providing the ballot [unless the form
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of the list makes it impracticable to do so]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 86.014(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A copy of an application for a ballot to be voted by mail |
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is not available for public inspection, except to the voter seeking |
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to verify that the information pertaining to the voter is accurate, |
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until the first business day after the election day of the earliest |
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[latest] occurring election for which the application is submitted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |