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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to voter registration procedures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 13.002(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person desiring to register to vote must submit an |
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application to the registrar of the county in which the person |
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resides. Except as provided by Subsection (e), an application must |
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be submitted by personal delivery, by mail, electronically through |
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the official Internet website of this state in accordance with |
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Section 13.009, or by telephonic facsimile machine in accordance |
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with Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2). |
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(b) Except as provided by Section 13.009, a [A] registration |
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application must be in writing and signed by the applicant. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 13.009 and 13.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.009. ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) In this |
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section, "digital signature" means an electronic identifier |
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intended by the person using it to have the same force and effect as |
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the use of a manual signature. |
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(b) An electronically transmitted application for voter |
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registration issued or received by a registrar is considered signed |
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if a digital signature is transmitted with the document. |
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(c) The secretary of state shall implement a program to |
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allow a person to complete and submit a voter registration |
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application electronically through the official Internet website |
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of this state. The Internet websites of the secretary of state and |
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the Department of Public Safety must also provide a link to the |
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location of the application on the official Internet website of |
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this state. |
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(d) An applicant for electronic voter registration must: |
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(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on |
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the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true; |
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and |
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(2) submit a digital signature. |
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(e) An electronically transmitted application for voter |
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registration submitted under this section is considered for all |
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purposes an application submitted by mail under this title. |
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(f) An electronically transmitted application for voter |
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registration is a written document for all purposes and exempt from |
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any additional writing requirement under this code. |
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(g) The use of a digital signature under this section is |
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subject to criminal laws pertaining to fraud and computer crimes, |
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including Chapters 32 and 33, Penal Code. |
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(h) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section, including rules to provide for additional |
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security measures necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of |
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applications for voter registration submitted electronically. |
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Sec. 13.010. VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF |
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PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) The voter registrar of each county shall |
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automatically register any county resident who is eligible to vote |
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as provided by Section 13.001 and: |
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(1) is issued a Texas driver's license or a personal |
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identification card by the Department of Public Safety; or |
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(2) makes a change to a Texas driver's license or |
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personal identification card issued by the Department of Public |
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Safety. |
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(b) A driver's license or personal identification card |
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transaction with an indication provided by Section 20.062(b) or |
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20.063(c) that the transaction is not for voter registration |
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purposes is not subject to this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 20.061. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other |
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provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public Safety |
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except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or Section |
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13.010. |
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SECTION 4. Section 20.062(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The department shall prescribe and use a change of |
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address form and procedure that combines department and voter |
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registration functions. The form must allow a licensee or |
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cardholder to indicate that [whether] the change of address is not |
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[also to be used] for voter registration purposes. |
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SECTION 5. Section 20.063, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 20.063. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a) The Department |
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of Public Safety shall consider an application made in person, by |
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mail, or online at the department's Internet website [provide to
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each person who applies in person at the department's offices] for |
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an original or renewal of a driver's license, a personal |
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identification card, or a duplicate or corrected license or card by |
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a person who is eligible to vote as provided by Section 13.001 an |
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application for [opportunity to complete a] voter registration. |
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The date of application is considered to be the date of submission |
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to the voter registrar for the purpose of determining the effective |
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date of registration [application form]. |
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(b) The Department of Public Safety shall consider a change |
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of address that relates to [When the department processes] a |
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license or card and that is submitted to [for renewal by mail,] the |
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department [shall deliver to the applicant by mail a voter
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registration application form.
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[(c)
A change of address that relates to a license or card
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and that is submitted to the department] in person, [or] by mail, or |
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online at the department's Internet website [serves] as a change in |
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[of address for] voter registration [unless the licensee or
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cardholder indicates that the change is not for voter registration
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purposes]. The date of submission of a change of address to a |
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department employee is considered to be the date of submission to |
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the voter registrar for the purpose of determining the effective |
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date of registration [only]. |
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(c) The registration of an eligible [(d) If a completed] |
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voter as required by Subsections (a) and (b) is automatic unless the |
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person indicates that the transaction is not for voter |
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registration purposes [application submitted to a department
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employee does not include the applicant's correct driver's license
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number or personal identification card number, a department
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employee shall enter the appropriate information on the
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application. If a completed application does not include the
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applicant's correct residence address or mailing address, a
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department employee shall obtain the appropriate information from
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the applicant and enter the information on the application]. |
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SECTION 6. Section 20.065(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Each weekday the department is regularly open for |
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business, the department shall electronically transfer to the |
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secretary of state the name and information designated by the |
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secretary of state for [of each person who completes a] voter |
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registration for each individual who is eligible to vote as |
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provided by Section 13.001 and applies in person, by mail, or online |
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at the department's Internet website for an original or renewal of a |
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driver's license, a personal identification card, or a duplicate or |
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corrected license or card [application submitted to the
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department]. The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to |
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implement this subsection. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |