By: Dean (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) H.B. No. 3920
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 17, 2021;
  May 17, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on State
  Affairs; May 21, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 6, Nays 3; May 21, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to an application to vote early by mail on the grounds of
  disability or confinement for childbirth.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 82.002, Election Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 82.002.  DISABILITY OR CONFINEMENT FOR CHILDBIRTH.
         SECTION 2.  Section 82.002, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  A qualified voter is eligible for early voting by mail
  if the voter:
               (1)  has a sickness or physical condition that prevents
  the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day
  without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring
  the voter's health; or
               (2)  is expecting to give birth within three weeks
  before or after election day.
         (b)  The following do not constitute [Expected or likely
  confinement for childbirth on election day is] sufficient cause to
  entitle a voter to vote under Subsection (a):
               (1)  a lack of transportation;
               (2)  a sickness that does not prevent the voter from
  appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood
  of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter's health;
  or
               (3)  a requirement to appear at the voter's place of
  employment on election day.
         (c)  To be eligible for an early voting ballot by mail under
  Subsection (a)(1), an applicant must affirmatively indicate that he
  or she agrees with the statement prescribed by Section 84.002(c).
         SECTION 3.  Section 84.002, Election Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  An application for a ballot to be voted by mail on the
  ground of disability must require the applicant to affirmatively
  indicate that the applicant agrees with the statement, "I have a
  sickness or physical condition that prevents me from appearing at
  the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing
  personal assistance or injuring my health," as prescribed by
  Section 82.002(a).
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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