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A BILL TO BE ENACTED
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AN ACT
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relating to the inclusion of additional printed languages |
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for election materials in certain political subdivisions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF |
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TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 272.011, Election Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 272.011. BILINGUAL ELECTION MATERIALS REQUIRED IN |
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CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. |
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(a) If the director of the census determines under 42 |
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U.S.C. Section 1973aa-1a that a political subdivision must 12 provide |
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election materials in a language other than English or Spanish, the |
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political subdivision shall provide election materials in that |
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language in the same manner in 15 which the political subdivision |
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would be required to provide materials in Spanish under this chapter, |
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to the |
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extent applicable. |
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(b) In addition to any and all languages included by Sec. |
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272.011(a), all counties with a population more than |
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2,500,000 persons shall provide election materials printed |
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in Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, and French. |
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(c) The election administrator of all counties with a |
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population of more than 2,500,000 persons shall also have |
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discretion to provide election materials printed in |
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additional languages. |
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(b) (d) The secretary of state shall prepare the |
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translation for election materials required to be provided |
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in a language other than English or Spanish for the |
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following state prescribed voter forms: |
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(1) voter registration application form required by |
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Section 13.002; |
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(2) the confirmation form required by Section |
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15.051; |
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(3) the voting instruction poster required by |
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Section 62.011; |
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(4) the reasonable impediment declaration required |
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by Section 63.001(b); |
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(5) the statement of residence form required by |
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Section 63.0011; |
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(6) the provisional ballot affidavit required by |
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Section 63.011; |
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(7) the application for a ballot by mail required 18 |
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by Section 84.011; |
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(8) the carrier envelope and voting instructions |
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required by Section 86.013; and |
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(9) any other voter forms that the secretary of |
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state identifies as frequently used and for which |
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state resources are otherwise available. |
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SECTION 2. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to |
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contradict or constrict any aspect of federal law. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, |
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2025. |