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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to early voting ballots voted by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 64.0322(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form required |
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by this section. The form must be incorporated into the official |
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carrier envelope or signature sheet contained in the official |
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carrier envelope if the voter is voting an early voting ballot by |
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mail and receives assistance under Section 86.010, or must be |
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submitted to an election officer at the time the voter casts a |
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ballot if the voter is voting at a polling place or under Section |
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64.009. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 86.002(b) and (g), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Before providing the balloting materials to the voter, |
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the clerk shall enter on the signature sheet contained in the |
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carrier envelope the identity and date of the election. |
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(g) The signature sheet contained in the carrier envelope |
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must include a space [that is hidden from view when the envelope is |
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sealed] for the voter to enter the following information: |
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(1) the number of the voter's driver's license, |
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election identification certificate, or personal identification |
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card issued by the Department of Public Safety; |
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(2) if the voter has not been issued a number described |
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by Subdivision (1), the last four digits of the voter's social |
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security number; or |
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(3) a statement by the applicant that the applicant |
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has not been issued a number described by Subdivision (1) or (2). |
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SECTION 3. Section 86.010(e), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(e) A person who assists a voter to prepare a ballot to be |
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voted by mail shall enter on: |
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(1) the official carrier envelope of the voter[: |
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[(1)] the person's signature, printed name, and |
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residence address; and |
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(2) the signature sheet contained in the official |
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carrier envelope: |
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(A) the relationship of the person providing the |
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assistance to the voter; and |
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(B) [(3)] whether the person received or |
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accepted any form of compensation or other benefit from a |
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candidate, campaign, or political committee in exchange for |
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providing assistance. |
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SECTION 4. Section 86.013, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) and adding |
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Subsection (h) to read as follows: |
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(b) Spaces must appear on the signature sheet contained in |
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[reverse side of] the official carrier envelope for: |
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(1) indicating the identity and date of the election; |
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(2) entering the signature, printed name, and |
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residence address of a person other than the voter who deposits the |
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carrier envelope in the mail or with a common or contract carrier; |
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and |
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(3) indicating the relationship of that person to the |
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voter. |
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(d) The following textual material, as prescribed by the |
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secretary of state, must be printed on the signature sheet |
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contained in [reverse side of] the official carrier envelope [or on |
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a separate sheet accompanying the carrier envelope] when it is |
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provided: |
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(1) the prohibition prescribed by Section 86.006(b); |
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(2) the conditions for delivery by common or contract |
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carrier prescribed by Sections 81.005 and 86.006; |
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(3) the requirements for the legal execution and |
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delivery of the carrier envelope, including the prohibition on |
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compensation for depositing carrier envelopes containing ballots |
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voted by other persons under Section 86.0052; |
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(4) the prohibition prescribed by Section 86.006(e); |
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and |
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(5) the offenses prescribed by Sections 86.006(f) and |
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86.010(f). |
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(e) The following notice must be printed on the signature |
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sheet contained in [reverse side of] the official carrier envelope, |
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near the space provided for the voter's signature: "This envelope |
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must be sealed by the voter before it leaves the voter's hands. Do |
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not sign this envelope unless the ballot has been marked by you or |
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at your direction." |
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(f) The oath of a person assisting a voter must be included |
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on the signature sheet contained in the official carrier envelope |
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as part of the certificate prescribed by Subsection (c). |
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(g) The secretary of state by rule shall require that a |
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notice informing voters of the telephone number established under |
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Section 31.0055 and the purpose of the telephone number be printed |
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on the signature sheet[: |
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[(1) the official carrier envelope; or |
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[(2) an insert] enclosed with the balloting materials |
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for voting by mail sent to the voter. |
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(h) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and |
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content of the signature sheet that satisfies requirements of this |
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code. |
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SECTION 5. Section 272.011(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The secretary of state shall prepare the translation for |
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election materials required to be provided in a language other than |
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English or Spanish for the following state prescribed voter forms: |
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(1) voter registration application form required by |
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Section 13.002; |
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(2) the confirmation form required by Section 15.051; |
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(3) the voting instruction poster required by Section |
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62.011; |
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(4) the reasonable impediment declaration required by |
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Section 63.001(b); |
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(5) the statement of residence form required by |
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Section 63.0011; |
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(6) the provisional ballot affidavit required by |
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Section 63.011; |
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(7) the application for a ballot by mail required by |
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Section 84.011; |
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(8) the carrier envelope, signature sheet, and voting |
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instructions required by Section 86.013; and |
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(9) any other voter forms that the secretary of state |
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identifies as frequently used and for which state resources are |
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otherwise available. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |