BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.J.R. 51
87R9071 ADM-D	By: Creighton; Bettencourt
	State Affairs
	4/16/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In the lead-up to the 2020 election, many states and political subdivisions dramatically expanded absentee voting, including sending absentee ballot applications to voters who did not request them. S.J.R. 51 ensures that no officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state may distribute an official application form for an absentee ballot to a person unless the person has requested the distribution. 

This measure promotes election security by ensuring that absentee ballot applications are mailed only to voters who intend to vote absentee, keeping these applications from being discarded en masse by voters who do not intend to use them.

S.J.R. 51 proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting the unsolicited distribution of an application form for an absentee ballot.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 2, Article VI, Texas Constitution, by adding Subsection (d) to prohibit an officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state from distributing an official application form for an absentee ballot to a person unless the person has requested the distribution.

SECTION 2. Requires that the proposed constitutional amendment be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021. Sets forth the required language of the ballot. �