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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to electronic voter registration. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.009. ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The |
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secretary of state shall work with the Department of Public Safety |
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and the Department of Information Resources to implement a program |
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to allow a person to complete a voter registration application over |
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the Internet from the official website of this state. The Internet |
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websites of the secretary of state and the Department of Public |
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Safety must also provide a link to the location of the application |
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on the official website of this state. |
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(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration who has |
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an unexpired driver's license or personal identification card |
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issued in this state must: |
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(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on |
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the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true; |
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and |
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(2) affirmatively consent to the use of the signature |
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on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card |
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for voter registration purposes. |
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(c) An applicant for electronic voter registration who does |
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not have an unexpired driver's license or personal identification |
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card issued in this state must: |
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(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on |
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the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true; |
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and |
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(2) digitally sign the applicant's application before |
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submitting it electronically. |
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(d) For each application submitted under Subsection (b), |
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the program shall require that a digital copy of the applicant's |
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signature be obtained from the Department of Public Safety. |
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(e) A digital signature given as provided by secretary of |
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state rule meets the signature requirement under Section 13.002(b). |
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An application submitted under this section is considered for all |
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purposes an application submitted by mail under this title. |
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(f) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section, including rules to provide for additional |
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security measures necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of |
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applications submitted electronically. |
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(g) The rules adopted under Subsection (f) must require |
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that: |
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(1) the Internet website through which a person may |
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complete a voter registration application include a description of |
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the offense described by Section 13.007 in a conspicuous location |
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on the website near the place where the person begins or submits the |
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application; and |
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(2) the state electronic Internet portal project be |
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used to authenticate the identity and address of a person who |
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submits an application electronically under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 13.042(c), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) An application submitted after the 27th [34th] day |
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before the date of an election and on or before the last day for a |
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person to timely submit a registration application for that |
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election as provided by Section 13.143 shall be delivered not later |
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than 5 p.m. of the next regular business day after the date to |
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timely submit a registration application for that election as |
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provided by Section 13.143. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 13.143(a) and (e), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (e), if an |
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applicant's registration application is approved, the registration |
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becomes effective on the 23rd [30th] day after the date the |
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application is submitted to the registrar or on the date the |
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applicant becomes 18 years of age, whichever is later. |
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(e) If the 23rd [30th] day before the date of an election is |
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a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, an |
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application is considered to be timely if it is submitted to the |
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registrar on or before the next regular business day. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |