Bill Text: TX SB211 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 211 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the registration of voters at a polling place during early voting by personal appearance and related procedures.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-31 - Referred to State Affairs [SB211 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-SB211-Introduced.html

	82R1225 ATP-D

	By: Ellis	S.B. No. 211



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the registration of voters at a polling place during
	early voting by personal appearance 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. Subchapter B, Chapter 85, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 85.0312 to read as follows:
	Sec. 85.0312. REGISTRATION AT POLLING PLACE DURING EARLY
	VOTING. (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 early 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 any of the
	following documents that display the person's current name and
	current address on the day the person seeks to vote:
	(A) a Texas driver's license, including a
	temporary license or instruction permit, or personal
	identification card issued to the person by the Department of
	Public Safety;
	(B) any other identification issued by a
	government agency containing the person's photograph;
	(C) a utility bill or bank statement addressed to
	the person and dated not earlier than the 30th day before the date
	the person seeks to vote;
	(D) a paycheck issued to the person;
	(E) a government check or government document
	issued to or belonging to the person; or
	(F) a document designated by the secretary of
	state under Subsection (e).
	(b) The election officer shall make a copy of the proof of
	residence submitted under Subsection (a)(2) and attach it to the
	registration application. The election officer shall return the
	original proof of residence to the voter.
	(c) A person voting under this section shall vote the early
	voting ballot that would be provided to a voter voting early by
	mail. The person must place the marked ballot in the official
	carrier envelope, execute the carrier envelope as provided by
	Section 86.013, and deliver the carrier envelope and ballot to the
	election officer before leaving the polling place. A ballot voted
	under this section shall be processed in the same manner as a ballot
	voted early by mail.
	(d) For each registration corresponding to a ballot cast
	under this section, the voter registrar shall review the
	application and copy of the proof of residence and determine
	whether the applicant is eligible for registration as provided by
	Subchapter C, Chapter 13. The registrar shall inform the early
	voting ballot board of a determination made under this subsection.
	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 3. Section 86.007, Election Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
	(h) A ballot voted under Section 85.0312 and delivered to an
	election officer as required by that section is considered timely
	returned.
	SECTION 4. Section 87.041, Election Code, is amended by
	amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsection (f) to read
	as follows:
	(a) The early voting ballot board shall open each jacket
	envelope for an early voting ballot voted by mail or as provided by
	Section 85.0312 and determine whether to accept the voter's ballot.
	(d) Except as provided by Subsection (f), a [A] ballot shall
	be rejected if any requirement prescribed by Subsection (b) is not
	satisfied. In that case, the board shall indicate the rejection by
	entering "rejected" on the carrier envelope and on the
	corresponding jacket envelope.
	(f) Subsections (b)(3) and (b)(5)-(7) do not apply to a
	voter who votes under Section 85.0312.
	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.