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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the cancellation of all voter registrations following |
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each presidential election; making conforming changes to voter |
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registration and maintenance procedures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 13.142(c), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) An initial certificate takes effect on the effective |
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date of the registration and expires on the [following] January 1 |
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immediately following the next gubernatorial election [of an |
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even-numbered year]. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 14.001(a), (c), and (d), Election Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) On or after November 15 but before December 6 of each |
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[odd-numbered] year with a gubernatorial election, the registrar |
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shall issue a voter registration certificate to each voter in the |
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county whose registration is effective on the preceding November 14 |
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and whose name does not appear on the suspense list. |
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(c) A renewal certificate is valid until the [for two years |
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beginning on] January 1 immediately following the next presidential |
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election [its issuance]. |
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(d) At the time the registrar issues an initial certificate |
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for a voter whose registration will be effective after November 14 |
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of each [an odd-numbered] year with a gubernatorial election and |
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before January 1 of the following year, the registrar shall also |
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issue the voter a renewal certificate. |
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SECTION 3. Section 14.023(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) After January 1 but not later than March 1 of each |
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[even-numbered] year, the registrar shall deliver a confirmation |
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notice in accordance with Section 15.051 to each voter whose name |
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appears on the suspense list under this subchapter. |
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SECTION 4. Section 16.032, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 16.032. CANCELLATION FOLLOWING END OF SUSPENSE LIST |
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PERIOD. If on January 1 [November 30] following the first [second] |
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general election for state and county officers that occurs after |
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the date the voter's name is entered on the suspense list a |
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registered voter's name appears on the suspense list, the registrar |
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shall cancel the voter's registration unless the name is to be |
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deleted from the list under Section 15.022 or 15.023. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 16.040 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 16.040. CANCELLATION FOLLOWING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. |
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(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, on January 1 |
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of each year immediately following a presidential election, the |
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registrar shall cancel all voter registrations. |
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(b) A cancellation under this section may not be challenged |
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or reinstated under this chapter. |
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(c) Following cancellation under this section, a person |
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desiring to register to vote must submit an application for |
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registration under Chapter 13. |
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SECTION 6. Section 16.061, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 16.061. RIGHT TO CHALLENGE CANCELLATION. A person |
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whose voter registration is canceled may challenge the cancellation |
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at a hearing before the registrar. This section does not apply to a |
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person whose voter registration is canceled under Section 16.040. |
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SECTION 7. Sections 13.142(c) and 14.001(c), Election Code, |
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as amended by this Act, apply only to a voter registration |
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certificate for which an application is received by the voter |
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registrar on or after September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |