Bill Text: TX HB244 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 1st Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the opportunity to correct a vote by mail application.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-07-12 - Filed [HB244 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB244-Introduced.html
| 87S10266 SGM-D | ||
| By: Fierro | H.B. No. 244 | |
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| relating to the opportunity to correct a vote by mail application. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 84.011(a), Election Code, as effective | ||
| September 1, 2021, is amended to read as follows: | ||
| (a) The officially prescribed application form for an early | ||
| voting ballot must include: | ||
| (1) immediately preceding the signature space the | ||
| statement: "I certify that the information given in this | ||
| application is true, and I understand that giving false information | ||
| in this application is a crime."; | ||
| (2) a statement informing the applicant of the | ||
| offenses prescribed by Sections 84.003 and 84.004; | ||
| (3) spaces for entering an applicant's voter | ||
| registration number and county election precinct of registration, | ||
| with a statement informing the applicant that failure to furnish | ||
| that information does not invalidate the application; and | ||
| (4) on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail: | ||
| (A) a space for an applicant applying on the | ||
| ground of absence from the county of residence to indicate the date | ||
| on or after which the applicant can receive mail at the address | ||
| outside the county; | ||
| (B) a space for indicating the fact that an | ||
| applicant whose application is signed by a witness cannot make the | ||
| applicant's mark and a space for indicating the relationship or | ||
| lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant; | ||
| (C) a space for entering an applicant's telephone | ||
| number and e-mail address, with a statement informing the applicant | ||
| that failure to furnish that information does not invalidate the | ||
| application; | ||
| (D) a space or box for an applicant applying on | ||
| the ground of age or disability to indicate that the address to | ||
| which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or | ||
| relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), if applicable; | ||
| (E) a space or box for an applicant applying on | ||
| the ground of confinement in jail or involuntary civil commitment | ||
| to indicate that the address to which the ballot is to be mailed is | ||
| the address of a relative described by Section 84.002(a)(4) or (7), | ||
| if applicable; | ||
| (F) a space for an applicant applying on the | ||
| ground of age or disability to indicate if the application is an | ||
| application under Section 86.0015; | ||
| (G) spaces for entering the signature, printed | ||
| name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant; | ||
| (H) a statement informing the applicant of the | ||
| condition prescribed by Section 81.005; and | ||
| (I) a statement informing the applicant of the | ||
| requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c). | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 86.001, Election Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: | ||
| (f) The early voting clerk, before rejecting an application | ||
| on the basis of a clerical error, shall make a reasonable effort to | ||
| contact the applicant by telephone or e-mail at any telephone | ||
| number or e-mail address provided on the application to notify the | ||
| applicant of the error. The applicant may appear at the early | ||
| voting clerk's office to make clerical corrections to the | ||
| application or submit a new application after receiving notice | ||
| under this section. If the applicant does not appear at the early | ||
| voting clerk's office before the fourth day after the date the early | ||
| voting clerk contacted the applicant at the telephone number or | ||
| e-mail address provided on the application, the clerk may reject | ||
| the application. The early voting clerk shall attach to and | ||
| maintain with the original application any records created or | ||
| submitted under this subsection. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the | ||
| last day of the legislative session. | ||
