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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to priority voting for voters with certain disabilities |
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substantially impairing mobility. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 63.0013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 63.0013. ACCEPTING VOTERS WITH CERTAIN DISABILITIES. |
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(a) In this section, "mobility problem that substantially impairs a |
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person's ability to ambulate" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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681.001, Transportation Code. |
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(b) An election officer may accept a person with a mobility |
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problem that substantially impairs a person's ability to ambulate |
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who is offering to vote before accepting others offering to vote at |
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the polling place who arrived before the person. |
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(c) Notice of the priority given to persons with a mobility |
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problem that substantially impairs a person's ability to ambulate |
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shall be posted: |
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(1) at one or more locations in each polling place |
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where it can be read by persons waiting to vote; |
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(2) on the Internet website of the secretary of state; |
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and |
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(3) on each Internet website relating to elections |
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maintained by a county. |
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(d) The notice required by Subsection (c) must read: |
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"Pursuant to Section 63.0013, Election Code, an election officer |
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may give voting order priority to individuals with a mobility |
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problem that substantially impairs the person's ability to move |
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around. A person assisting an individual with a mobility problem |
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may also, at the individual's request, be given voting order |
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priority. Disabilities and conditions that may qualify you for |
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voting order priority include paralysis, lung disease, the use of |
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portable oxygen, cardiac deficiency, severe limitation in the |
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ability to walk due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic |
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condition, wheelchair confinement, arthritis, foot disorder, the |
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inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest, or use of a |
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brace, cane, crutch, or other assistive device." |
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(e) A person assisting a voter in accordance with Section |
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64.032(c) may be accepted to vote concurrently with a person |
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accepted under Subsection (b) of this section at the voter's |
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request. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |