88R8323 MLH-D
 
  By: Hall S.B. No. 1338
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the eligibility of certain persons to vote early by
  mail.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 82.003, Election Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 2.  Section 84.002(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  An early voting ballot application must include:
               (1)  the applicant's name and the address at which the
  applicant is registered to vote;
               (1-a)  the following information:
                     (A)  the number of the applicant's driver's
  license, election identification certificate, or personal
  identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety;
                     (B)  if the applicant has not been issued a number
  described by Paragraph (A), the last four digits of the applicant's
  social security number; or
                     (C)  a statement by the applicant that the
  applicant has not been issued a number described by Paragraph (A) or
  (B);
               (2)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
  on the ground of absence from the county of residence, the address
  outside the applicant's county of residence to which the ballot is
  to be mailed;
               (3)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
  on the ground of [age or] disability, the address of the hospital,
  nursing home or other long-term care facility, or retirement
  center, or of a person related to the applicant within the second
  degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as
  determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, if the applicant is
  living at that address and that address is different from the
  address at which the applicant is registered to vote;
               (4)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
  on the ground of confinement in jail, the address of the jail or of a
  person related to the applicant within the degree described by
  Subdivision (3);
               (5)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
  on any ground, an indication of each election for which the
  applicant is applying for a ballot;
               (6)  an indication of the ground of eligibility for
  early voting; and
               (7)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
  on the ground of involuntary civil commitment, the address of the
  facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Civil
  Commitment Office or of a person related to the applicant within the
  degree of consanguinity described by Subdivision (3).
         SECTION 3.  Section 84.011(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The officially prescribed application form for an early
  voting ballot must include:
               (1)  immediately preceding the signature space the
  statement: "I certify that the information given in this
  application is true, and I understand that giving false information
  in this application is a crime.";
               (2)  a statement informing the applicant of the
  offenses prescribed by Sections 84.003 and 84.004;
               (3)  spaces for entering an applicant's voter
  registration number and county election precinct of registration,
  with a statement informing the applicant that failure to furnish
  that information does not invalidate the application;
               (3-a)  a space for entering the information required
  under Section 84.002(a)(1-a); and
               (4)  on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail:
                     (A)  a space for an applicant applying on the
  ground of absence from the county of residence to indicate the date
  on or after which the applicant can receive mail at the address
  outside the county;
                     (B)  a space for indicating the fact that an
  applicant whose application is signed by a witness cannot make the
  applicant's mark and a space for indicating the relationship or
  lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant;
                     (C)  a space for entering an applicant's telephone
  number, with a statement informing the applicant that failure to
  furnish that information does not invalidate the application;
                     (D)  a space or box for an applicant applying on
  the ground of [age or] disability to indicate that the address to
  which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or
  relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), if applicable;
                     (E)  a space or box for an applicant applying on
  the ground of confinement in jail or involuntary civil commitment
  to indicate that the address to which the ballot is to be mailed is
  the address of a relative described by Section 84.002(a)(4) or (7),
  if applicable;
                     (F)  a space for an applicant applying on the
  ground of [age or] disability to indicate if the application is an
  application under Section 86.0015;
                     (G)  spaces for entering the signature, printed
  name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant;
                     (H)  a statement informing the applicant of the
  condition prescribed by Section 81.005; and
                     (I)  a statement informing the applicant of the
  requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c).
         SECTION 4.  Section 86.0015(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  This section applies only to an application for a ballot
  to be voted by mail that:
               (1)  indicates the ground of eligibility is [age or]
  disability; and
               (2)  does not specify the election for which a ballot is
  requested or has been marked by the applicant as an application for
  more than one election.
         SECTION 5.  Section 86.003(c), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  The address to which the balloting materials must be
  addressed is the address at which the voter is registered to vote,
  or the registered mailing address if different, unless the ground
  for voting by mail is:
               (1)  absence from the county of residence, in which
  case the address must be an address outside the voter's county of
  residence;
               (2)  confinement in jail, in which case the address
  must be the address of the jail or of a relative described by
  Section 84.002(a)(4);
               (3)  [age or] disability and the voter is living at a
  hospital, nursing home or other long-term care facility, or
  retirement center, or with a relative described by Section
  84.002(a)(3), in which case the address must be the address of that
  facility or relative; or
               (4)  involuntary civil commitment, in which case the
  address must be the address of the facility or of a relative
  described by Section 84.002(a)(7).
         SECTION 6.   This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.