Bill Text: TX SB925 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the facilitation of voting by persons confined in certain jails.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-28 - Referred to State Affairs [SB925 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB925-Introduced.html
85R7904 ATP-D | ||
By: Garcia | S.B. No. 925 |
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relating to the facilitation of voting by persons confined in | ||
certain jails. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Title 16, Election Code, is amended by adding | ||
Chapter 279 to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 279. ENFRANCHISEMENT OF PERSONS CONFINED IN JAIL | ||
Sec. 279.001. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies to a | ||
person confined in a city or county jail. | ||
Sec. 279.002. NOTICE OF VOTING RIGHTS. (a) The secretary | ||
of state shall prescribe a written notice to be provided to each | ||
person confined in a city or county jail that states: | ||
(1) that persons eligible to vote may vote an absentee | ||
ballot from jail; | ||
(2) the upcoming election dates; and | ||
(3) the voter registration deadlines and absentee | ||
ballot request deadlines applicable to the upcoming elections. | ||
(b) The notice must be printed in English, Spanish, | ||
Vietnamese, and Mandarin. On the request of a person who does not | ||
speak one of these languages, a translation of the notice into the | ||
person's primary language must be provided. | ||
(c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules relating to the | ||
provision of the notice prescribed under this section to ensure | ||
that the notice is visible and accessible to persons confined in the | ||
jail. | ||
Sec. 279.003. VOTING MATERIALS. (a) The officially | ||
prescribed application form for registration by mail shall be made | ||
available to persons confined in jail who are eligible to register | ||
to vote. The officially prescribed application form for an early | ||
voting ballot shall be made available to persons confined in jail | ||
who are qualified voters. | ||
(b) The authority in charge of the jail shall facilitate the | ||
proper delivery of voter registration applications, applications | ||
for ballots to be voted by mail, and marked ballots to eligible | ||
persons and is responsible for the payment of any required postage. | ||
(c) The secretary of state may adopt any rules necessary to | ||
implement this section. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |