83R3852 ATP-F
By: Elkins H.B. No. 986
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the language in which a ballot to be voted by mail is
printed.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 84.014 to read as follows:
Sec. 84.014. APPLICATION FOR BALLOT IN ELECTION IN WHICH
BALLOT IS REQUIRED TO BE PRINTED IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH.
(a) For an election in which ballots to be voted by mail are
required to be printed in two or more languages other than English,
the secretary of state shall prescribe procedures, including the
modification, as appropriate, of the officially prescribed
application form for an early voting ballot so that:
(1) the applicant for the ballot may indicate on the
application the printed language the applicant desires for the
ballot; and
(2) if the applicant does not indicate on the
application a preference for the ballot to be provided in a
particular language, the ballot shall be provided to the applicant
in English.
(b) The early voting clerk shall provide the applicant with
a ballot in the language indicated on the application if that
language is required to be used for ballots in the election or, if
no language is indicated, provide the ballot to the applicant in
English.
SECTION 2. Section 272.006(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) If a separate translation of the ballot is made under
Subsection (a), the translation must be furnished to each voter to
whom an early voting ballot to be voted by mail is provided. This
subsection does not apply to an election to which Section 84.014
applies.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.