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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 at a polling place at which the |
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person would be allowed to vote if registered if, on the day the |
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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; |
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(2) presents as proof of identification: |
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(A) a Texas driver's license, including a |
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temporary license or instruction permit, or personal |
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identification card issued to the person by the Department of |
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Public Safety that states the person's current address on the day |
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the person seeks to vote; or |
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(B) a utility bill addressed to the person dated |
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not earlier than the 30th day before the date the person seeks to |
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vote, and: |
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(i) a Texas driver's license, including a |
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temporary license or instruction permit, or personal |
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identification card issued to the person by the Department of |
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Public Safety, regardless of whether the address stated on the |
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license or card is current on the day the person seeks to vote; |
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(ii) a United States passport issued to the |
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person; or |
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(iii) a United States military |
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identification card that contains the person's photograph; and |
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(3) executes an affidavit stating that the person: |
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(A) is eligible to vote in the election; and |
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(B) is voting only once in the election. |
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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 who is entitled to register at a polling |
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place, the early voting clerk shall follow the procedure for |
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accepting 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, 2026. |
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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, 2026. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |