89R13835 LRM-D

By: Creighton S.B. No. 2494

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the acceptance of a voter.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 63.001(b), (d), and (e), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (h), on offering to vote, a voter must present to an election officer at the polling place[:

[(1)] one form of photo identification listed in Section 63.0101(a)[; or

[(2) one form of identification listed in Section 63.0101(b) accompanied by the declaration described by Subsection (i)].

(d) If, as determined under Subsection (c), the voter's name is on the precinct list of registered voters and the voter's identity can be verified from the documentation presented under Subsection (b), the voter shall be accepted for voting. [An election officer may not question the reasonableness of an impediment sworn to by a voter in a declaration described by Subsection (i).]

(e) On accepting a voter, an election officer shall indicate beside the voter's name on the list of registered voters that the voter is accepted for voting. [If the voter executes a declaration of reasonable impediment to meet the requirement for identification under Subsection (b), the election officer must affix the voter's voter registration number to the declaration either in numeric or bar code form.]

SECTION 2. Section 63.004(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The secretary of state may prescribe forms that combine the poll list, the signature roster, or any other form used in connection with the acceptance of voters at polling places with each other or with the list of registered voters. The secretary shall prescribe any special instructions necessary for using the combination forms. [The combination forms must include space for an election officer to indicate whether a voter executed a declaration of reasonable impediment under Section 63.001(i).]

SECTION 3. Section 272.011(b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The secretary of state shall prepare the translation for election materials required to be provided in a language other than English or Spanish for the following state prescribed voter forms:

(1) voter registration application form required by Section 13.002;

(2) the confirmation form required by Section 15.051;

(3) the voting instruction poster required by Section 62.011;

(4) [the reasonable impediment declaration required by Section 63.001(b);

[(5)] the statement of residence form required by Section 63.0011;

(5) [(6)] the provisional ballot affidavit required by Section 63.011;

(6) [(7)] the application for a ballot by mail required by Section 84.011;

(7) [(8)] the carrier envelope and voting instructions required by Section 86.013; and

(8) [(9)] any other voter forms that the secretary of state identifies as frequently used and for which state resources are otherwise available.

SECTION 4. The following provisions are repealed:

(1) Section 63.001(i), Election Code;

(2) Section 63.0013, Election Code; and

(3) Section 63.0101(b), Election Code.

SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.

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