86R10495 GRM-D
 
  By: Klick H.B. No. 2911
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to voter registration.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 13.002(i), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (i)  An applicant who wishes to receive an exemption from the
  requirements of Section 63.001(b) on the basis of disability must
  submit [include with the person's application]:
               (1)  written documentation:
                     (A)  from the United States Social Security
  Administration evidencing the applicant has been determined to have
  a disability; or
                     (B)  from the United States Department of Veterans
  Affairs evidencing the applicant has a disability rating of at
  least 50 percent; and
               (2)  a statement in a form prescribed by the secretary
  of state that the applicant does not have a form of identification
  acceptable under Section 63.0101.
         SECTION 2.  Section 13.004(c), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  The following information furnished on a registration
  application is confidential and does not constitute public
  information for purposes of Chapter 552, Government Code:
               (1)  a social security number;
               (2)  a Texas driver's license number;
               (3)  a number of a personal identification card issued
  by the Department of Public Safety;
               (4)  [an indication that an applicant is interested in
  working as an election judge;
               [(5)]  the residence address of the applicant, if the
  applicant is a federal judge or state judge, as defined by Section
  13.0021, the spouse of a federal judge or state judge, or an
  individual to whom Section 552.1175, Government Code, applies and
  the applicant:
                     (A)  included an affidavit with the registration
  application describing the applicant's status under this
  subdivision, including an affidavit under Section 13.0021 if the
  applicant is a federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a
  federal judge or state judge;
                     (B)  provided the registrar with an affidavit
  describing the applicant's status under this subdivision,
  including an affidavit under Section 15.0215 if the applicant is a
  federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a federal judge or
  state judge; or
                     (C)  provided the registrar with a completed form
  approved by the secretary of state for the purpose of notifying the
  registrar of the applicant's status under this subdivision;
               (5) [(6)]  the residence address of the applicant, if
  the applicant, the applicant's child, or another person in the
  applicant's household is a victim of family violence as defined by
  Section 71.004, Family Code, who provided the registrar with:
                     (A)  a copy of a protective order issued under
  Chapter 85, Family Code, or a magistrate's order for emergency
  protection issued under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure;
  or
                     (B)  other independent documentary evidence
  necessary to show that the applicant, the applicant's child, or
  another person in the applicant's household is a victim of family
  violence;
               (6) [(7)]  the residence address of the applicant, if
  the applicant, the applicant's child, or another person in the
  applicant's household is a victim of sexual assault or abuse,
  stalking, or trafficking of persons who provided the registrar
  with:
                     (A)  a copy of a protective order issued under
  Chapter 7A or Article 6.09, Code of Criminal Procedure, or a
  magistrate's order for emergency protection issued under Article
  17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
                     (B)  other independent documentary evidence
  necessary to show that the applicant, the applicant's child, or
  another person in the applicant's household is a victim of sexual
  assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons; or
               (7) [(8)]  the residence address of the applicant, if
  the applicant:
                     (A)  is a participant in the address
  confidentiality program administered by the attorney general under
  Subchapter C, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure; and
                     (B)  provided the registrar with proof of
  certification under Article 56.84, Code of Criminal Procedure.
         SECTION 3.  Section 13.072(d), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  If an application clearly indicates that the applicant
  resides in another county, the registrar shall forward the
  application to the other county's registrar not later than the
  second day after the date the application is received [and, if the
  other county is not contiguous, shall deliver written notice of
  that action to the applicant not later than the seventh day after
  the date the application is received]. The date of submission of a
  completed application to the wrong registrar is considered to be
  the date of submission to the proper registrar for purposes of
  determining the effective date of the registration.
         SECTION 4.  Section 13.142(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  After approval of a registration application, the
  registrar shall:
               (1)  prepare a voter registration certificate [in
  duplicate] and issue the original certificate to the applicant; and
               (2)  enter the applicant's county election precinct
  number and registration number on the applicant's registration
  application.
         SECTION 5.  Section 13.143(d-2), Election Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d-2)  For a registration application submitted by
  telephonic facsimile machine to be effective, a copy of the
  original registration application containing the voter's original
  signature must be submitted by personal delivery or mail and be
  received by the registrar not later than the fourth business day
  after the transmission by telephonic facsimile machine is received.
         SECTION 6.  Section 15.001(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Each voter registration certificate issued must
  contain:
               (1)  the voter's name in the form indicated by the
  voter, subject to applicable requirements prescribed by Section
  13.002 and by rule of the secretary of state;
               (2)  the voter's residence address or, if the residence
  has no address, the address at which the voter receives mail and a
  concise description of the location of the voter's residence;
               (3)  the [month, day, and] year of the voter's birth;
               (4)  the number of the county election precinct in
  which the voter resides;
               (5)  the voter's effective date of registration if an
  initial certificate;
               (6)  the voter's registration number;
               (7)  an indication of the period for which the
  certificate is issued;
               (8)  a statement explaining the circumstances under
  which the voter will receive a new certificate;
               (9)  a space for stamping the voter's political party
  affiliation;
               (10)  a statement that voting with the certificate by a
  person other than the person in whose name the certificate is issued
  is a felony;
               (11)  a space for the voter's signature;
               (12)  a statement that the voter must sign the
  certificate personally, if able to sign, immediately on receipt;
               (13)  a space for the voter to correct the information
  on the certificate followed by a signature line;
               (14)  the statement:  "If any information on this
  certificate changes or is incorrect, correct the information in the
  space provided, sign below, and return this certificate to the
  voter registrar.";
               (15)  the registrar's mailing address and telephone
  number; and
               (16)  the jurisdictional or distinguishing number for
  the following territorial units in which the voter resides, as
  determined by the voter registrar:
                     (A)  congressional district;
                     (B)  state senatorial district;
                     (C)  state representative district;
                     (D)  commissioners precinct;
                     (E)  justice precinct;
                     (F)  city election precinct; and
                     (G)  school district election precinct.
         SECTION 7.  Section 15.022(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The registrar shall make the appropriate corrections in
  the registration records, including, if necessary, deleting a
  voter's name from the suspense list:
               (1)  after receipt of a notice of a change in
  registration information under Section 15.021;
               (2)  after receipt of a voter's reply to a notice of
  investigation given under Section 16.033;
               (3)  after receipt of any affidavits executed under
  Section 63.006, following an election;
               (4)  after receipt of a voter's statement of residence
  executed under Section 63.0011;
               (5)  before the effective date of the abolishment of a
  county election precinct or a change in its boundary;
               (6)  after receipt of United States Postal Service
  information indicating an address reclassification;
               (7)  after receipt of a voter's response under Section
  15.053; [or]
               (8)  after receipt of a registration application or
  change of address under Chapter 20; or
               (9)  on discovering a data entry error has been made.
         SECTION 8.  Section 15.023, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 15.023.  TIME FOR CERTAIN DELETIONS FROM SUSPENSE LIST.
  If the name of a voter [whose residence is changed] on the list of
  registered voters [registration records to another county election
  precinct in the same county] appears on the suspense list, the
  voter's name shall be deleted from the list on the date the voter
  provides a completed application to register to vote in accordance
  with Section 13.002 [voter's registration in the precinct of new
  residence becomes effective].
         SECTION 9.  Section 15.051(d), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  The registrar shall maintain with the voter's record an
  indication that a confirmation notice was sent to the voter [a list
  of the confirmation notices mailed to voters, which for each notice
  must include the voter's name and the date the notice is mailed.
  The registrar shall maintain and retain the list in accordance with
  rules prescribed by the secretary of state].
         SECTION 10.  Section 15.053(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The [Not later than the 30th day after the date a
  confirmation notice is mailed, the] voter shall submit to the
  registrar a written, signed response to the notice that confirms
  the voter's current residence.  The response must contain all of
  the information that a person must include in an application to
  register to vote under Section 13.002.
         SECTION 11.  Section 15.082(b), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The [fee for each] list shall be provided in accordance
  with Chapter 552, Government Code [or portion of a list furnished
  under this section may not exceed the actual expense incurred in
  reproducing the list or portion for the person requesting it and
  shall be uniform for each type of copy furnished. The registrar
  shall make reasonable efforts to minimize the reproduction
  expenses].
         SECTION 12.  Section 16.031(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The registrar shall cancel a voter's registration
  immediately on receipt of:
               (1)  notice under Section 13.072(b), [or] 15.021, or
  18.0681(d) or a response under Section 15.053 that the voter's
  residence is outside the county;
               (2)  an abstract of the voter's death certificate under
  Section 16.001(a) or an abstract of an application indicating that
  the voter is deceased under Section 16.001(b);
               (3)  an abstract of a final judgment of the voter's
  total mental incapacity, partial mental incapacity without the
  right to vote, conviction of a felony, or disqualification under
  Section 16.002, 16.003, or 16.004;
               (4)  notice under Section 112.012 that the voter has
  applied for a limited ballot in another county;
               (5)  notice from a voter registration official in
  another state that the voter has registered to vote outside this
  state;
               (6)  notice from the early voting clerk under Section
  101.053 that a federal postcard application submitted by an
  applicant states a voting residence address located outside the
  registrar's county; or
               (7)  notice from the secretary of state that the voter
  has registered to vote in another county, as determined by the
  voter's driver's license number or personal identification card
  number issued by the Department of Public Safety or social security
  number.
         SECTION 13.  Section 16.032, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 16.032.  CANCELLATION FOLLOWING END OF SUSPENSE LIST
  PERIOD. If on November 30 following the second general election for
  state and county officers that occurs after the date the voter's
  name is entered on the suspense list a registered voter's name
  appears on the suspense list, the registrar shall cancel the
  voter's registration unless the name is to be deleted from the list
  under Section 15.022 or 15.023.
         SECTION 14.  Sections 16.0921(a) and (b), Election Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), on the filing of a
  sworn statement under Section 16.092 alleging a ground based on
  residence, the registrar shall promptly deliver to the voter whose
  registration is challenged a confirmation notice in accordance with
  Section 15.051, unless the residential address provided in the
  challenge for the voter is different from the voter's current
  residential address indicated on the registration records.
         (b)  If the voter is delivered a confirmation notice [fails
  to submit a response to the registrar in accordance with Section
  15.053], the registrar shall enter the voter's name on the suspense
  list.
         SECTION 15.  Section 18.002(c), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  An additional copy of each list shall be furnished for
  use in early voting and as needed in order to ensure all voters
  eligible to vote in an election appear correctly on the original
  list.
         SECTION 16.  Section 18.003(c), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  An additional copy of each list shall be furnished for
  use in early voting and as needed in order to ensure all voters
  eligible to vote in an election appear correctly on the original
  list.
         SECTION 17.  Section 18.005(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Each original and supplemental list of registered
  voters must:
               (1)  contain the voter's name, date of birth, and
  registration number as provided by the statewide computerized voter
  registration list;
               (2)  contain the voter's residence address, except as
  provided by Subsections (b) and (c) [or Section 18.0051];
               (3)  be arranged alphabetically by voter name; and
               (4)  contain the notation required by Section 15.111.
         SECTION 18.  Sections 18.061(b) and (d), Election Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The statewide computerized voter registration list
  must:
               (1)  contain the name and registration information of
  each voter registered in the state;
               (2)  assign a unique identifier to each registered
  voter; and
               (3)  be available to any county election official in
  the state through immediate electronic access.
         (d)  The secretary of state may contract with counties to
  provide them with electronic data services to facilitate the
  implementation and maintenance of the statewide computerized voter
  registration list. The secretary shall use funds collected under
  the contracts to defray expenses incurred in implementing and
  maintaining the statewide computerized voter registration list.
         SECTION 19.  Section 18.069, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 18.069.  VOTING HISTORY.  Not later than the 30th day
  after the date of the primary, runoff primary, or general election
  or any special election ordered by the governor, the general
  custodian of election records [registrar] shall electronically
  submit to the secretary of state the record of each voter
  participating in the election.  The record must include a notation
  of whether the voter voted on election day, voted early by personal
  appearance, voted early by mail under Chapter 86, or voted early by
  mail under Chapter 101.
         SECTION 20.  Section 18.0681(d), Election Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d)  If the secretary of state determines that a voter on the
  registration list has more than one registration record on file
  based on a strong match, the secretary shall send notice of the
  determination to the voter registrar of the [each] county with the
  oldest registration record in which the voter is registered to
  vote.  If the voter records identified are:
               (1)  located in the same county, the voter registrar
  may merge the records following a determination that each record
  belongs to the same voter using the procedure for the correction of
  registration records under Section 15.022; or
               (2)  located in more than one county, the registrar of
  the county with the oldest record may deliver a written
  confirmation notice in accordance with Section 15.051 or cancel the
  registration of the voter in accordance with Section 16.031(a)(1),
  provided that the voter's record in the county with the newest
  registration record is not on the suspense list.
         SECTION 21.  The following provisions of the Election Code
  are repealed:
               (1)  Sections 15.082(c) and (d);
               (2)  Subchapter F, Chapter 15;
               (3)  Section 18.0051; and
               (4)  Section 18.008(c).
         SECTION 22.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.