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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to election integrity. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 11, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 11.0021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 11.0021. MEASURES TO PREVENT NONCITIZEN VOTER |
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REGISTRATION AND VOTING. Notwithstanding any other law, to ensure |
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a person who is not a citizen of the United States may not register |
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to vote or vote: |
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(1) at least twice each year, the secretary of state |
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shall use the United States Department of Homeland Security |
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database of noncitizens living in Texas to identify noncitizens |
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whose voter registrations should be canceled and shall take all |
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appropriate actions; |
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(2) the Department of Public Safety shall forward to |
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the secretary of state the file of a person who applies for a Texas |
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driver's license or identification card and provides on the |
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application form that the person is not a citizen of the United |
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States; and |
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(3) the secretary of state may audit a county's voter |
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registration list to ensure a county complies with: |
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(A) state law; and |
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(B) the secretary of state's directives, |
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including a requested deletion from a county's voter registration |
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list. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 19.002(b) and (d), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) After June 1 of each year, the secretary of state shall |
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make payments pursuant to vouchers submitted by the registrar and |
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approved by the secretary of state in amounts determined by the |
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secretary of state based on the registrar's compliance with this |
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code and the secretary of state's directives [that in the aggregate |
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do not exceed the registrar's entitlement]. The secretary of state |
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shall prescribe the procedures necessary to implement this |
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subsection. |
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(d) The secretary of state may not make a payment under |
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Subsection (b) if on June 1 of the year in which the payment is to be |
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made the registrar is not in substantial compliance with this code |
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or the secretary of state's directives [Section 15.083, 16.031, |
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16.032, or 18.065 or with rules implementing the registration |
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service program]. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 32, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 32.116 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.116. ELECTION JUDGE TRAINING. (a) The secretary of |
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state shall create an examination of election law and procedures |
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that a person must pass before serving as an election judge during |
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early voting by personal appearance or on election day. A county |
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must maintain an election judge's completed examination for at |
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least 24 months after the date of the election for which the person |
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served as an election judge as evidence of the election judge's |
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understanding of election law and procedures. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall prescribe any necessary |
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rules and take any appropriate action to implement this section. |
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SECTION 4. Section 63.0013, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The secretary of state shall investigate a voter who |
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executed a declaration of reasonable impediment under Section |
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63.001(i) with the Department of Public Safety's identification |
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database to determine whether the voter has been issued a Texas |
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driver's license or an identification card by the Department of |
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Public Safety. For each match: |
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(1) the attorney general shall, as appropriate, |
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prosecute the voter under this section or Chapter 37, Penal Code; |
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(2) the secretary of state shall make a notation on the |
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statewide computerized voter registration list and notify the |
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appropriate county election officials that the voter has, and to |
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vote must use, an identification prescribed by Section 63.0101(a); |
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and |
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(3) the attorney general shall report findings of the |
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investigation under this section to the federal Fifth Circuit Court |
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of Appeals. |
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SECTION 5. Sections 19.002(a) and 19.0025, Election Code, |
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are repealed. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |