88R1448 ADM-D
 
  By: Guerra H.B. No. 1070
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the methods of voter registration.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 13.009 and 13.010 to read as follows:
         Sec. 13.009.  AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH
  DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) The voter
  registrar of each county shall automatically register any county
  resident who is 18 years of age, eligible to vote as provided by
  Section 13.001, and issued a Texas driver's license or a personal
  identification card by the Department of Public Safety unless the
  resident chooses not to be registered.
         (b)  A driver's license or personal identification card
  transaction with an indication provided by Section 20.063(c) that
  the transaction is not for voter registration purposes is not
  subject to this section.
         Sec. 13.010.  ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The
  secretary of state shall implement a program to allow a person to
  complete a voter registration application over the Internet from
  the official Internet website of this state. The Internet websites
  of the secretary of state and the Department of Public Safety must
  also provide a link to the location of the application on the
  official Internet website of this state.
         (b)  An applicant for electronic voter registration who has
  an unexpired driver's license or personal identification card
  issued in this state must:
               (1)  attest to the truth of the information provided on
  the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;
  and
               (2)  affirmatively consent to the use of the signature
  on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card
  for voter registration purposes.
         (c)  An applicant for electronic voter registration who does
  not have an unexpired driver's license or personal identification
  card issued in this state must:
               (1)  attest to the truth of the information provided on
  the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;
  and
               (2)  print a registration application from the Internet
  website the applicant is using to register, sign the application,
  and mail it to the registrar.
         (d)  For each application submitted under Subsection (b),
  the program shall require that a digital copy of the applicant's
  signature be obtained from the Department of Public Safety.
         (e)  For each application submitted under Subsection (c),
  the program shall provide the applicant with:
               (1)  a registration application that the applicant can
  print from the registration website, sign, and mail to the
  registrar as required under Subsection (c)(2); and
               (2)  information about how the applicant can obtain a
  driver's license or personal identification card from the
  Department of Public Safety.
         (f)  An application submitted under this section is
  considered for all purposes an application submitted by mail under
  this title.
         (g)  The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
  implement this section, including rules to provide for additional
  security measures necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of
  applications submitted electronically.
         (h)  The rules adopted under Subsection (g) must require
  that:
               (1)  the Internet website through which a person may
  complete a voter registration application include a description of
  the offense described by Section 13.007 in a conspicuous location
  on the website near the place where the person begins or submits the
  application; and
               (2)  the state electronic Internet portal project be
  used to authenticate the identity of a person who submits an
  application electronically under this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 20.061.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other
  provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public Safety
  except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or Section
  13.009.
         SECTION 3.  Section 20.063, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  The Department of Public Safety shall provide to each
  person who applies in person, by mail, or online at the department's
  Internet website [at the department's offices] for an original or
  renewal of a driver's license, a personal identification card, or a
  duplicate or corrected license or card an opportunity to complete a
  voter registration application form.
         (c)  A change of address that relates to a license or card and
  that is submitted to the department in person, [or] by mail, or
  online at the department's Internet website serves as a change of
  address for voter registration unless the licensee or cardholder
  indicates that the change is not for voter registration purposes.
  The date of submission of a change of address to a department
  employee is considered to be the date of submission to the voter
  registrar for the purpose of determining the effective date of
  registration [only].
         (e)  The Department of Public Safety shall consider an
  application made in person, by mail, or online at the department's
  Internet website for an original or renewal of a driver's license, a
  personal identification card, or a duplicate or corrected license
  or card by a person who is 18 years of age and eligible to vote as
  provided by Section 13.001 an application for voter registration.
  The date of application is considered to be the date of submission
  to the voter registrar for the purpose of determining the effective
  date of registration. The registration of an eligible voter under
  this subsection is automatic unless the person indicates that the
  person is choosing not to be registered or that the transaction is
  not for voter registration purposes.
         SECTION 4.  Section 20.065(b), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Each weekday the department is regularly open for
  business, the department shall electronically transfer to the
  secretary of state the name and information designated by the
  secretary of state for [of] each person who completes a voter
  registration application submitted to the department and for each
  individual who is eligible for registration under Section
  20.063(e). The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to
  implement this subsection.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.