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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to qualifications and registration of certain voters on |
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parole or mandatory supervision. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 11.002(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) In this code, "qualified voter" means a person who: |
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(1) is 18 years of age or older; |
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(2) is a United States citizen; |
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(3) has not been determined by a final judgment of a |
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court exercising probate jurisdiction to be: |
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(A) totally mentally incapacitated; or |
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(B) partially mentally incapacitated without the |
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right to vote; |
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(4) has not been finally convicted of a felony or, if |
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so convicted, has: |
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(A) completed [fully discharged the person's |
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sentence, including] any term of incarceration[, parole,] or |
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community supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered |
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by any court; |
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(B) been released on parole or mandatory |
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supervision; or |
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(C) [(B)] been pardoned or otherwise released |
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from the resulting disability to vote; |
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(5) is a resident of this state; and |
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(6) is a registered voter. |
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SECTION 2. Section 13.001(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible for registration as a voter in this |
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state, a person must: |
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(1) be 18 years of age or older; |
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(2) be a United States citizen; |
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(3) not have been determined by a final judgment of a |
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court exercising probate jurisdiction to be: |
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(A) totally mentally incapacitated; or |
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(B) partially mentally incapacitated without the |
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right to vote; |
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(4) not have been finally convicted of a felony or, if |
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so convicted, must have: |
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(A) completed [fully discharged the person's |
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sentence, including] any term of incarceration[, parole,] or |
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community supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered |
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by any court; |
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(B) been released on parole or mandatory |
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supervision; or |
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(C) [(B)] been pardoned or otherwise released |
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from the resulting disability to vote; and |
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(5) be a resident of the county in which application |
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for registration is made. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |