Bill Text: TX HB696 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to voter registration applications.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-05-04 - Reported favorably w/o amendment(s) [HB696 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB696-Introduced.html

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87R2437 MLH-D
By: Fierro H.B. No. 696

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to voter registration applications.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 13.073, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as
follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (b-1), the
registrar shall deliver written notice of the reason for the
rejection of an application to the applicant not later than the
second day after the date of rejection.
(b-1) Before rejecting an application on which an applicant
provided a telephone number or e-mail address, the registrar may
notify an applicant by telephone or e-mail that the registrar needs
additional information to approve the application, including
correcting an applicant's date of birth, correcting the spelling of
the applicant's name, or providing additional information to
correct an address or county of residence. The registrar shall make
a reasonable effort to contact the applicant by telephone or
e-mail. The registrar may send the applicant by mail or e-mail a
blank voter registration application that includes the address to
return the application to the registrar.
SECTION 2. Section 13.122(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) In addition to the other statements and spaces for
entering information that appear on an officially prescribed
registration application form, each official form must include:
(1) the statement: "I understand that giving false
information to procure a voter registration is perjury and a crime
under state and federal law.";
(2) a space for the applicant's registration number;
(3) a space for the applicant's Texas driver's license
number or number of a personal identification card issued by the
Department of Public Safety;
(4) a space for the applicant's telephone number;
(5) a space for the applicant's social security
number;
(6) a space for the applicant's sex;
(7) a statement indicating that the furnishing of the
applicant's telephone number, e-mail address, and sex is optional;
(8) a space or box for indicating whether the
applicant or voter is submitting new registration information or a
change in current registration information;
(9) a statement instructing a voter who is using the
form to make a change in current registration information to enter
the voter's name and the changed information in the appropriate
spaces on the form;
(10) a statement that if the applicant declines to
register to vote, that fact will remain confidential and will be
used only for voter registration purposes;
(11) a statement that if the applicant does register
to vote, information regarding the agency or office to which the
application is submitted will remain confidential and will be used
only for voter registration purposes;
(12) a space or box for indicating whether the
applicant is interested in working as an election judge;
(13) a statement warning that a conviction for making
a false statement may result in imprisonment for up to the maximum
amount of time provided by law, a fine of up to the maximum amount
provided by law, or both the imprisonment and the fine; [and]
(14) a space for the applicant's e-mail address; and
(15) any other voter registration information
required by federal law or considered appropriate and required by
the secretary of state.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.