83R7525 DRH-D
By: Perez H.B. No. 3500
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the electronic transmission of balloting materials for
an election to certain voters located outside this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 84.011(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The officially prescribed application form for an early
voting ballot must include:
(1) immediately preceding the signature space the
statement: "I certify that the information given in this
application is true, and I understand that giving false information
in this application is a crime.";
(2) a statement informing the applicant of the
offenses prescribed by Sections 84.003 and 84.004;
(3) spaces for entering an applicant's voter
registration number and county election precinct of registration,
with a statement informing the applicant that failure to furnish
that information does not invalidate the application; and
(4) on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail:
(A) a space for an applicant applying on the
ground of absence from the county of residence to indicate the date
on or after which the applicant can receive mail at the address
outside the county;
(B) a space for indicating the fact that an
applicant whose application is signed by a witness cannot make the
applicant's mark and a space for indicating the relationship or
lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant;
(C) a space for entering an applicant's telephone
number, with a statement informing the applicant that failure to
furnish that information does not invalidate the application;
(D) a space or box for an applicant applying on
the ground of age or disability to indicate that the address to
which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or
relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), if applicable;
(E) a space or box for an applicant applying on
the ground of confinement in jail to indicate that the address to
which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a relative
described by Section 84.002(a)(4), if applicable;
(F) spaces for entering the signature, printed
name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant;
(G) a statement informing the applicant of the
condition prescribed by Section 81.005; [and]
(H) a statement informing the applicant of the
requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c); and
(I) a statement informing an applicant who
provides an address under Paragraph (A), (D), or (E) to which the
application is to be mailed that is located outside the state that
the applicant can choose to receive the application by e-mail
transmission and a space for entering an e-mail address for this
purpose.
SECTION 2. Section 86.003, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the [The]
balloting materials for voting by mail shall be provided to the
voter by mail. A ballot provided by any other method may not be
counted.
(e) A voter is entitled to have the balloting materials sent
by electronic transmission to the voter as provided by Subchapter
C, Chapter 101, for an election to which that subchapter applies, if
the voter's application for an early voting ballot to be voted by
mail:
(1) cites a ground for voting by mail listed in
Subsection (c);
(2) provides an address for the balloting materials to
be sent to that is located outside of this state; and
(3) provides an e-mail address.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.