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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to signature verification on an early voting ballot voted |
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by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 87.027(i), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(i) The signature verification committee shall compare the |
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signature on each carrier envelope certificate, except those signed |
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for a voter by a witness, with the signature on the voter's ballot |
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application to determine whether the signatures are those of the |
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same person. The committee may also compare the signatures with |
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any two or more signatures of the voter made within the preceding |
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six years and on file with the general custodian of election records |
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or voter registrar [the signature on the voter's registration
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application] to confirm that the signatures are those of the same |
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person and may [but may not] use the signatures [registration
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application signature] to determine that the signatures are not |
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those of the same person. Except as provided by Subsection (l), a |
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determination under this subsection that the signatures are not |
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those of the same person must be made by a majority vote of the |
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committee's membership. The committee shall place the jacket |
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envelopes, carrier envelopes, and applications of voters whose |
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signatures are not those of the same person in separate containers |
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from those of voters whose signatures are those of the same |
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person. The committee chair shall deliver the sorted materials to |
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the early voting ballot board at the time specified by the board's |
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presiding judge. |
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SECTION 2. Section 87.041(e), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(e) In making the determination under Subsection (b)(2), |
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the board may also compare the signatures with any two or more |
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signatures of the voter made within the preceding six years and on |
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file with the general custodian of election records or voter |
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registrar to determine if [confirm that] the signatures are those |
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of the same person [but may not use the signatures to determine that
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the signatures are not those of the same person]. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect December 1, 2017. |