Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2226 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	84R5402 GRM-D
2	2	By: Rodriguez of Bexar H.B. No. 2226
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the use of e-mail on a vote by mail application.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Section 84.011(a), Election Code, is amended to
10	10	read as follows:
11	11	(a) The officially prescribed application form for an early
12	12	voting ballot must include:
13	13	(1) immediately preceding the signature space the
14	14	statement: "I certify that the information given in this
15	15	application is true, and I understand that giving false information
16	16	in this application is a crime.";
17	17	(2) a statement informing the applicant of the
18	18	offenses prescribed by Sections 84.003 and 84.004;
19	19	(3) spaces for entering an applicant's voter
20	20	registration number and county election precinct of registration,
21	21	with a statement informing the applicant that failure to furnish
22	22	that information does not invalidate the application; and
23	23	(4) on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail:
24	24	(A) a space for an applicant applying on the
25	25	ground of absence from the county of residence to indicate the date
26	26	on or after which the applicant can receive mail at the address
27	27	outside the county;
28	28	(B) a space for indicating the fact that an
29	29	applicant whose application is signed by a witness cannot make the
30	30	applicant's mark and a space for indicating the relationship or
31	31	lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant;
32	32	(C) a space for entering an applicant's telephone
33	33	number and e-mail address, with a statement informing the applicant
34	34	that failure to furnish that information does not invalidate the
35	35	application;
36	36	(D) a space or box for an applicant applying on
37	37	the ground of age or disability to indicate that the address to
38	38	which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or
39	39	relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), if applicable;
40	40	(E) a space or box for an applicant applying on
41	41	the ground of confinement in jail to indicate that the address to
42	42	which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a relative
43	43	described by Section 84.002(a)(4), if applicable;
44	44	(F) spaces for entering the signature, printed
45	45	name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant;
46	46	(G) a statement informing the applicant of the
47	47	condition prescribed by Section 81.005; and
48	48	(H) a statement informing the applicant of the
49	49	requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c).
50	50	SECTION 2. Section 86.001, Election Code, is amended by
51	51	adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
52	52	(f) The early voting clerk, before rejecting an
53	53	application, shall make a reasonable effort to contact the
54	54	applicant by e-mail at any e-mail address provided on the
55	55	application, to ask questions about the application. The applicant
56	56	may make clerical corrections to the application by e-mail,
57	57	including correcting the applicant's date of birth, correcting
58	58	spelling of the applicant's name, or providing additional
59	59	information to correct an address or county of residence. If an
60	60	applicant has submitted an address that is not an acceptable
61	61	mailing address, the applicant may submit to the early voting clerk
62	62	a mailing address by e-mail. If the early voting clerk does not
63	63	receive a response before the fourth day after the date the clerk
64	64	sent an e-mail to the e-mail address provided on the application,
65	65	the clerk may reject the application.
66	66	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.