83R7561 ADM-D
By: Wu H.B. No. 1837
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the registration of voters at certain polling places
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 one-stop voting location
under Section 85.0312 for early voting by personal appearance is a
deputy voter registrar and has the same authority as a regular
deputy registrar.
SECTION 2. Section 65.054, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a provisional ballot
cast under Section 85.0312 shall be accepted if the voter registrar
determines the applicant is eligible for registration under Section
85.0312(e).
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 85, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 85.0312 to read as follows:
Sec. 85.0312. ONE-STOP EARLY VOTING. (a) In this section,
"one-stop voting location" means:
(1) for the general election for state and county
officers:
(A) in a county with a population of less than
100,000, the main early voting polling place;
(B) in a county with a population of 100,000 or
more, at least 80 percent of early voting polling places that are
not mobile voting stations; and
(C) at the discretion of the county clerk, any
other early voting polling place; and
(2) at the discretion of the county clerk, any early
voting polling place during any election where early voting is
conducted.
(b) 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
at a one-stop voting location 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:
(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 that states the person's current address on the day
the person seeks to vote; or
(B) a utility bill addressed to the person dated
not earlier than the 30th day before the date the person seeks to
vote, and:
(i) 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, regardless of whether the address stated on the
license or card is current on the day the person seeks to vote;
(ii) a United States passport issued to the
person; or
(iii) a United States military
identification card that contains the person's photograph.
(c) The election officer shall make a copy of the proof of
residence submitted under Subsection (b)(2) and attach it to the
registration application. The election officer shall return the
original proof of residence to the voter.
(d) A person voting under this section shall vote a
provisional ballot in the manner provided by Section 63.011 except
that the person is not required to submit the affidavit under
Section 63.011(a).
(e) 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.
(f) The secretary of state may by rule prescribe procedures
to implement this section.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.