87R2354 TSS-D
 
  By: Reynolds H.B. No. 712
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the registration of voters at a polling place and
  related procedures.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 12.007 to read as follows:
         Sec. 12.007.  CERTAIN ELECTION OFFICERS ARE VOTER
  REGISTRARS.  An election officer serving a polling place for early
  voting by personal appearance is a deputy voter registrar and has
  the same authority as a regular deputy registrar.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 62, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Section 62.0015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 62.0015.  VOTER REGISTRARS MUST BE PRESENT.  Two voter
  registrars must be present at each polling place while the polls are
  open.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Section 63.010 to read as follows:
         Sec. 63.010.  REGISTRATION AT POLLING PLACE.  (a)  A person
  who would be eligible to vote in an election under Section 11.001,
  but for the requirement to be a registered voter, shall be accepted
  during voting by personal appearance for voting the ballot for the
  precinct of the person's residence as shown by the identification
  presented if, on the day the person offers to vote, the person:
               (1)  submits a voter registration application that
  complies with Section 13.002 to an election officer at the polling
  place; and
               (2)  presents as proof of residence a form of photo
  identification described by Section 63.0101(a) that states the
  person's current address.
         (b)  The election officer shall return the original proof of
  residence to the voter.
         (c)  A person voting under this section shall vote a
  provisional ballot in the manner provided by Section 63.011 except
  that the person is not required to submit the affidavit under
  Section 63.011(a).
         (d)  For each registration corresponding to a ballot cast
  under this section, the voter registrar shall review the
  application and determine whether the applicant is eligible for
  registration as provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 13.  A
  registration approved under this subsection takes effect on the
  date the vote was cast.
         (e)  The secretary of state may by rule:
               (1)  designate additional documents that a person may
  offer to prove the person's residence to register and vote under
  this section; and
               (2)  prescribe procedures to implement this section.
         SECTION 4.  Section 65.051(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The early voting ballot board shall verify and count
  provisional ballots as provided by this subchapter not later than
  the 10th [ninth] day after the date of an election.
         SECTION 5.  Section 67.003(b), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Each [Except as provided by Subsection (c), each] local
  canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at
  the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer not
  later than the 14th [11th] day after election day and not earlier
  than the later of:
               (1)  the third day after election day;
               (2)  the date on which the early voting ballot board has
  verified and counted all provisional ballots, if a provisional
  ballot has been cast in the election; or
               (3)  the date on which all timely received ballots cast
  from addresses outside of the United States are counted, if a ballot
  to be voted by mail in the election was provided to a person outside
  of the United States.
         SECTION 6.  Section 85.031(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  For each person entitled to vote an early voting ballot
  by personal appearance or entitled to register at a polling place,
  the early voting clerk shall follow the procedure for accepting or
  registering a regular voter on election day, with the modifications
  necessary for the conduct of early voting.
         SECTION 7.  Section 67.003(c), Election Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.