Bill Text: TX SB45 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 45 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to electronic voter registration and electronic submission of an application for an early voting ballot by mail.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-08-09 - Filed [SB45 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB45-Introduced.html

	87S20262 SMT-D

	By: Alvarado, et al.	S.B. No. 45



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to electronic voter registration and electronic
	submission of an application for an early voting ballot by mail.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:
	Sec. 13.009. ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The
	secretary of state shall implement a program to allow a person to
	complete a voter registration application over the Internet from
	the official website of this state. The websites of the secretary
	of state and the Department of Public Safety must also provide a
	link to the location of the application on the official website of
	this state.
	(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration who has a
	driver's license or personal identification card issued in this
	state, regardless of whether the license or card is unexpired,
	must:
	(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on
	the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;
	and
	(2) affirmatively consent to the use of the signature
	on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card
	for voter registration purposes.
	(c) An applicant for electronic voter registration who does
	not have a driver's license or personal identification card issued
	in this state must:
	(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on
	the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;
	and
	(2) print a registration application from the website
	the applicant is using to register, sign the application, and mail
	it to the registrar.
	(d) For each application submitted under Subsection (b),
	the program must require that a digital copy of the applicant's
	signature be obtained from the Department of Public Safety.
	(e) For each application submitted under Subsection (c),
	the program must provide the applicant with:
	(1) a registration application that the applicant can
	print from the registration website, sign, and mail to the
	registrar as required under Subsection (c)(2); and
	(2) information about how the applicant can obtain a
	driver's license or personal identification card from the
	Department of Public Safety.
	(f) An application submitted under this section is
	considered for all purposes an application submitted by mail under
	this title.
	(g) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
	implement this section, including rules to provide for additional
	security measures necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of
	applications submitted electronically.
	(h) The rules adopted under Subsection (g) must require
	that:
	(1) the Internet website through which a person may
	complete a voter registration application include a description of
	the offense described by Section 13.007 in a conspicuous location
	on the website near the place where the person begins or submits the
	application; and
	(2) the state electronic Internet portal project be
	used to authenticate the identity of a person who submits an
	application electronically under this section.
	SECTION 2. Sections 84.001(b) and (d), Election Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(b) An application must be in writing and signed by the
	applicant. Except as provided by Section 84.0091, an [An]
	electronic signature is not permitted.
	(d) An application must be submitted [~~by mail~~] to the early
	voting clerk for the election who serves the election precinct of
	the applicant's residence.
	SECTION 3. Section 84.007(a), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(a) Except as provided by Sections 84.008, [~~and~~] 84.009, and
	84.0091, an application for a ballot to be voted by mail must be
	submitted as provided by this section.
	SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 84.0091 to read as follows:
	Sec. 84.0091. SUBMITTING APPLICATION FOR BALLOT VOTED BY
	MAIL: ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION. The secretary of state shall
	implement a program to allow a person to complete an application for
	an early voting ballot by mail over the Internet from the official
	website of this state. The program must:
	(1) permit an applicant to electronically sign the
	application;
	(2) deliver a completed application to the early
	voting clerk for the election who serves the election precinct of
	the applicant's residence; and
	(3) permit an applicant to check the status of the
	applicant's application.
	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
	last day of the legislative session.