Bill Text: TX HB952 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the use of e-mail on a vote by mail application.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-27 - Referred to Elections [HB952 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB952-Introduced.html
| 85R4265 GRM-D | ||
| By: Rodriguez of Bexar | H.B. No. 952 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to the use of e-mail on a vote by mail application. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 84.011(a), Election Code, 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 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), 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 Subsections (f) and (f-1) to read as follows: | ||
| (f) The early voting clerk, before rejecting an | ||
| application, shall make a reasonable effort to contact the | ||
| applicant by e-mail at any e-mail address provided on the | ||
| application, to ask questions about the application. The applicant | ||
| may make clerical corrections to the application by e-mail, | ||
| including correcting the applicant's date of birth, correcting | ||
| spelling of the applicant's name, or providing additional | ||
| information to make corrections to an address or county of | ||
| residence. If an applicant has submitted an address that is not an | ||
| acceptable mailing address, the applicant may submit to the early | ||
| voting clerk a mailing address by e-mail. If the early voting clerk | ||
| does not receive a response before the fourth day after the date the | ||
| clerk sent an e-mail to the 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 submissions and corrections provided by e-mail under | ||
| this subsection. | ||
| (f-1) An applicant may not change the address or county of | ||
| residence submitted on the original application to a different | ||
| address or county of residence by e-mail. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | ||
