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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to signature verification on an early voting ballot voted |
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by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 87.027, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (i-1) to read as follows: |
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(i-1) In making the determination under Subsection (i), the |
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Signature Verification committee may only determine whether the |
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handwriting on the certificate and application indicates that the |
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same person executed both signatures. The committee may not |
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determine that two signatures were not executed by the same person |
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on the basis of which version of the same name the person used, |
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including: |
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(1) the inclusion of a middle name or initial in one |
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signature that is omitted in the other; |
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(2) the use of a common nickname in one signature and a |
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formal name in the other; or |
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(3) a variation between the two signatures of the |
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order of the person's first, middle, and last name. |
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SECTION 2. Section 87.041, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: |
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(h) In making the determination under Subsection (b)(2), |
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the board may only determine whether the handwriting on the |
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certificate and application indicates that the same person executed |
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both signatures. The board may not determine that two signatures |
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were not executed by the same person on the basis of which version |
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of the same name the person used, including: |
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(1) the inclusion of a middle name or initial in one |
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signature that is omitted in the other; |
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(2) the use of a common nickname in one signature and a |
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formal name in the other; or |
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(3) a variation between the two signatures of the |
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order of the person's first, middle, and last name. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |