Bill Text: TX SB45 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | 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 |
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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 [ |
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electronic signature is not permitted. | ||
(d) An application must be submitted [ |
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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, [ |
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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. |