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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to voter registration, including electronic voter |
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registration. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 12.006(f), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(f) A regular deputy registrar may not assist in the |
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registration of voters until the deputy registrar has completed |
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training developed under Section 12.007 [13.047]. At the time of |
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appointment, the voter registrar shall provide information about |
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the times and places at which training is offered. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.009. ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The |
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secretary of state shall implement a program to allow a person who |
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has a valid state-issued driver's license or personal |
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identification card to complete a voter registration application |
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over the Internet from an official state website. The secretary of |
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state may develop an Internet website for this purpose. |
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(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration must: |
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(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on |
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the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true; |
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(2) affirmatively consent to the use of the signature |
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on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card |
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for voter registration purposes; |
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(3) provide the information required under Section |
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13.002(c); and |
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(4) provide the audit number and date of issuance of |
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the applicant's Texas driver's license or personal identification |
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card issued by the Department of Public Safety. |
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(c) When a person submits an application under this section, |
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the secretary of state shall compare the information provided by |
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the applicant against Department of Public Safety records. If any |
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information submitted by an applicant does not match Department of |
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Public Safety records, the secretary shall reject the application. |
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(d) When a person submits an application under this section, |
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the Internet Protocol address of the device used to submit the |
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application shall be recorded and included with the applicant's |
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application file under Section 13.101 or 13.102, as appropriate. |
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(e) The completed online application and information from |
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the Department of Public Safety, including all copies of the |
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applicant's digital signature on record, shall be provided to: |
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(1) the voter registrar for the county where the |
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applicant currently resides; and |
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(2) the secretary of state for the statewide |
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computerized voter registration list under Section 18.061. |
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(f) An application submitted electronically under this |
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section is considered for all purposes as an application submitted |
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by mail under this title. |
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(g) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 13.047, Election Code, is transferred to |
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Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Election Code, and redesignated as |
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Section 12.007, Election Code, to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.007 [13.047]. TRAINING STANDARDS FOR DEPUTY |
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REGISTRARS. (a) The secretary of state shall: |
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(1) adopt standards of training in election law |
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relating to the registration of voters; |
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(2) develop materials for a standardized curriculum |
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for that training; and |
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(3) distribute the materials as necessary to each |
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county voter registrar. |
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(b) The training standards may include the passage of an |
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examination at the end of a training program. |
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SECTION 4. Section 20.037(c), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) An application form delivered by mail must be |
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accompanied by a notice informing the applicant that the |
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application may be submitted in person or by mail to the voter |
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registrar of the county in which the applicant resides [or in person |
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to a volunteer deputy registrar for delivery to the voter registrar |
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of the county in which the applicant resides]. |
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SECTION 5. Section 20.122(c), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) The application forms must be accompanied by a notice |
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informing the licensees that the applications may be submitted in |
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person or by mail to the voter registrar of the county in which they |
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reside [or in person to a volunteer deputy registrar for delivery to |
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the voter registrar of the county in which they reside]. |
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SECTION 6. Section 31.040(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The commissioners court or the administrator may |
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require any or all of the administrator's deputies[, other than |
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unpaid volunteer deputy registrars,] to give a bond similar to that |
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required of the administrator in an amount not exceeding the amount |
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of the administrator's bond. |
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SECTION 7. Section 31.161(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The joint elections commission or the joint elections |
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administrator may require any or all of the administrator's |
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deputies[, other than unpaid volunteer deputy registrars,] to give |
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a bond similar to that required of the administrator in an amount |
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not exceeding the amount of the administrator's bond. |
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SECTION 8. The following provisions of the Election Code |
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are repealed: |
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(1) the heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 13; and |
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(2) Sections 13.031, 13.032, 13.033, 13.034, 13.035, |
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13.036, 13.037, 13.038, 13.039, 13.040, 13.041, 13.042, 13.043, |
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13.044, 13.045, 13.046, and 13.048. |
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SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |