87R7848 MLH-D
 
  By: Jetton, Cain, Crockett, et al. H.B. No. 2321
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to signature verification on an early voting ballot voted
  by mail.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 87.027(i), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (i)  The signature verification committee shall compare the
  signature on each carrier envelope certificate, except those signed
  for a voter by a witness, with the signature on the voter's ballot
  application to determine whether the signatures are those of the
  voter. The committee shall also compare the signatures with each
  signature of the voter obtained from the Department of Public
  Safety and on file with the county clerk or voter registrar. The
  committee may also compare the signatures with any two or more
  signatures of the voter made within the preceding six years and on
  file with the county clerk or voter registrar to determine whether
  the signatures are those of the voter. Except as provided by
  Subsection (l), a determination under this subsection that the
  signatures are not those of the voter must be made by a majority
  vote of the committee's membership. The committee shall place the
  jacket envelopes, carrier envelopes, and applications of voters
  whose signatures are not those of the voter in separate containers
  from those of voters whose signatures are those of the voter. The
  committee chair shall deliver the sorted materials to the early
  voting ballot board at the time specified by the board's presiding
  judge.
         SECTION 2.  Section 87.041, Election Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:
         (e-1)  In making the determination under Subsection (b)(2),
  the board shall also compare the signatures with each signature of
  the voter obtained from the Department of Public Safety and on file
  with the county clerk or voter registrar.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.