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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to procedures for early voting by mail or voting by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 81, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 81.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.006. MODIFICATION OF EARLY VOTING BY MAIL OR VOTING |
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BY MAIL QUALIFICATIONS AND PROCEDURES. Except as specifically |
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permitted by statute, the qualifications and procedures for early |
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voting by mail or voting by mail may not be amended or suspended for |
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any reason. |
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SECTION 2. Section 418.016, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: |
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(i) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) and except as provided |
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by this subsection, the governor may not suspend a provision of a |
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statute, order, or rule under this section if the provision, order, |
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or rule is related to the qualifications or procedures for early |
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voting by mail or voting by mail. On declaration of a state of |
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disaster, the governor may suspend Section 86.006(a-1), Election |
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Code, only for the purpose of allowing a voter registered to vote at |
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an address located in a disaster area to deliver a marked ballot to |
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the early voting clerk's office on or before election day. |
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SECTION 3. Section 418.108, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (j) to read as follows: |
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(j) The presiding officer of the governing body of a |
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political subdivision may not suspend a provision of a statute, |
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order, or rule under this section if the provision, order, or rule |
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is related to the qualifications or procedures for early voting by |
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mail or voting by mail. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |