89R8881 TSS-F

By: Garcia of Bexar H.B. No. 3523

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the registration of military family members at a polling place and related procedures.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 12.007 to read as follows:

Sec. 12.007. CERTAIN ELECTION OFFICERS ARE VOTER REGISTRARS. The registrar shall appoint at least one election officer serving each polling place for early voting by personal appearance or on election day as a regular deputy registrar.

SECTION 2. Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 63.010 to read as follows:

Sec. 63.010. REGISTRATION OF MILITARY FAMILIES AT POLLING PLACE; VOTING PROCEDURES. (a) In this section, "armed forces of the United States" has the meaning assigned by Section 171.0251.

(b) Other applicable provisions of this code apply to the conduct of voting and to the registration of voters under this section to the extent those provisions do not conflict with this section.

(c) A person who would be eligible to vote in an election under Section 11.001, but for the requirement to be a registered voter, shall be accepted for voting at a polling place at which the person would be allowed to vote if registered if, on the day the person offers to vote:

(1) the person:

(A) is a member of the armed forces of the United States;

(B) is the spouse, as indicated by an original or certified copy of the person's marriage license, of a member of the armed forces of the United States; or

(C) is the child, as indicated by an original or certified copy of the child's birth certificate or adoption order, of a member of the armed forces of the United States;

(2) the person submits a voter registration application that complies with Section 13.002 to a voter registrar at the polling place;

(3) the person presents an unexpired United States military identification card, such as a common access card, that includes the photograph of the person, the person's spouse, or the person's parent, as applicable; and

(4) the person presents as proof of identification:

(A) a Texas driver's license, including a temporary license or instruction permit, or personal identification card issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety that states the person's current address on the day the person seeks to vote;

(B) orders issued by the United States military requiring the member of the armed forces of the United States described by Subdivision (1) to actively serve within this state; or

(C) a utility bill addressed to the member of the armed forces of the United States described by Subdivision (1) dated not earlier than the 30th day before the date the person seeks to vote.

(d) Persons voting under this section shall be processed separately at the polling place from persons who are voting under regular procedures.

(e) The secretary of state shall adopt rules to ensure the accountability of election officers and to fairly implement this section.

SECTION 3. Section 85.031(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) For each person entitled to vote an early voting ballot by personal appearance or who is entitled to register at a polling place, the early voting clerk shall follow the procedure for accepting a regular voter on election day, with the modifications necessary for the conduct of early voting.

SECTION 4. The secretary of state shall adopt rules as required by Section 63.010, Election Code, as added by this Act, not later than February 1, 2026.

SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an election for which early voting by personal appearance begins on or after February 1, 2026.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.