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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the registration of voters at a polling place and |
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related procedures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 12.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.007. CERTAIN ELECTION OFFICERS ARE VOTER |
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REGISTRARS. The registrar shall appoint at least one election |
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officer serving each polling place for early voting by personal |
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appearance or on election day as a regular deputy registrar. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 63.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 63.010. REGISTRATION AT POLLING PLACE; VOTING |
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PROCEDURES. (a) Other applicable provisions of this code apply to |
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the conduct of voting and to the registration of voters under this |
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section to the extent those provisions do not conflict with this |
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section. |
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(b) A person who would be eligible to vote in an election |
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under Section 11.001, but for the requirement to be a registered |
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voter, shall be accepted for voting in the precinct of the person's |
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residence if, on the day the person offers to vote, the person: |
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(1) submits a voter registration application that |
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complies with Section 13.002 to a voter registrar at the polling |
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place; and |
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(2) presents as proof of identification: |
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(A) a form of photo identification listed in |
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Section 63.0101(a) that states the person's current address on the |
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day the person seeks to vote; or |
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(B) a document listed in Section 63.0101(b)(2) |
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and another form of identification listed in Section 63.0101(a), |
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(b)(1), or (b)(3). |
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(c) Persons voting under this section shall be processed |
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separately at the polling place from persons who are voting under |
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regular procedures. |
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(d) The secretary of state shall adopt rules to ensure the |
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accountability of election officers and to fairly implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 85.031(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) For each person entitled to vote an early voting ballot |
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by personal appearance or entitled to register at a polling place, |
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the early voting clerk shall follow the procedure for accepting or |
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registering a regular voter on election day, with the modifications |
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necessary for the conduct of early voting. |
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SECTION 4. The secretary of state shall adopt rules as |
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required by Section 63.010, Election Code, as added by this Act, not |
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later than February 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an election for which early voting by personal appearance begins on |
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or after February 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |