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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the acceptance of certain voters at a polling place. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 63.0013, Election Code, as added by |
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Chapter 980 (H.B. 658), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2017, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 63.0013. ACCEPTING CERTAIN VOTERS [WITH CERTAIN
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DISABILITIES]. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "First responder" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 421.095, Government Code. |
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(2) "Mobility[, "mobility] problem that substantially |
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impairs a person's ability to ambulate" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 681.001, Transportation Code. |
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(b) An election officer may accept a person with a mobility |
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problem that substantially impairs a person's ability to ambulate |
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or a uniformed first responder who is offering to vote before |
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accepting others offering to vote at the polling place who arrived |
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before the person. |
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(c) Notice of the priority given to persons with a mobility |
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problem that substantially impairs a person's ability to ambulate |
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or to uniformed first responders shall be posted: |
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(1) at one or more locations in each polling place |
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where it can be read by persons waiting to vote; |
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(2) on the Internet website of the secretary of state; |
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and |
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(3) on each Internet website relating to elections |
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maintained by a county. |
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(d) The notice required by Subsection (c) must read: |
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"Pursuant to Section 63.0013, Election Code, an election officer |
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may give voting order priority to individuals with a mobility |
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problem that substantially impairs the person's ability to move |
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around or to uniformed first responders. A person assisting an |
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individual with a mobility problem may also, at the individual's |
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request, be given voting order priority. Disabilities and |
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conditions that may qualify you for voting order priority include |
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paralysis, lung disease, the use of portable oxygen, cardiac |
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deficiency, severe limitation in the ability to walk due to |
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arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition, wheelchair |
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confinement, arthritis, foot disorder, the inability to walk 200 |
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feet without stopping to rest, or use of a brace, cane, crutch, or |
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other assistive device." |
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(e) A person assisting a voter in accordance with Section |
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64.032(c) may be accepted to vote concurrently with a person |
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accepted under Subsection (b) of this section at the voter's |
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request. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |