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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to procedures for early voting by mail and voting by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 81, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 81.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.006. MODIFICATION OF EARLY VOTING BY MAIL AND |
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VOTING BY MAIL QUALIFICATIONS AND PROCEDURES. Except as |
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specifically permitted by statute, the qualifications may not be |
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amended or suspended for any reason for: |
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(1) early voting by mail and procedures for conducting early |
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voting by mail; and |
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(2) voting by mail and procedures for conducting voting by |
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mail. |
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SECTION 2. Section 418.016, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: |
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(i) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) and except as provided |
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by this subsection, the governor may not suspend a provision of a |
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statute, an order, or a rule under this section if the provision, |
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order, or rule is related to the qualifications or procedures for |
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early voting by mail and voting by mail. Upon declaration of state |
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of disaster, the governor may suspend Section 86.006(a-1), Election |
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Code, only for the purpose of allowing a voter registered to vote at |
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an address located in a disaster area to deliver a marked ballot |
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voted under Section 86.006(a-1) to the early voting clerk's office |
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on or before election day. |
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SECTION 3. Section 418.108, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (j) to read as follows: |
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(j) the presiding officer of the governing body of a |
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political subdivision may not suspend a provision of a statute, an |
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order, or a rule under this section if the provision, order, or rule |
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is related to the qualifications or procedures for early voting by |
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mail and voting by mail. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |