Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB913 Latest Draft

Bill / House Committee Report Version Filed 02/02/2025

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                            84R25185 ATP-D
 By: Israel, Thompson of Harris, Minjarez, H.B. No. 913
 Laubenberg
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 913:
 By:  Israel C.S.H.B. No. 913


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the requirements pertaining to a ballot to be voted by
 mail and materials accompanying the official carrier envelope.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Sections 86.013(c), (d), and (g), Election Code,
 are amended to read as follows:
 (c)  A certificate in substantially the following form must
 be printed on the reverse side of the official carrier envelope in a
 manner that requires the voter to sign across the flap of the
 envelope:
 "I certify that the enclosed ballot expresses my wishes
 independent of any dictation or undue persuasion by any person.
 ________________________________
 Signature of voter
 By: ____________________________
 Signature of person assisting
 voter, if applicable (see Ballot
 Envelope and separate sheet
 accompanying Carrier Envelope for
 restrictions and penalties)
 ________________________________
 Printed name of person assisting
 voter, if applicable
 ________________________________
 Residence address of person
 assisting voter, if applicable"
 The space provided for the voter's signature must be located in a
 box that is at least one inch by three inches, and "Signature of
 Voter" and "Sign Over the Sealed Flap" must be printed in bold type.
 (d)  The following textual material, as prescribed by the
 secretary of state, must be printed [on the reverse side of the
 official carrier envelope or] on a separate sheet accompanying the
 carrier envelope [when it is provided]:
 (1)  the prohibition prescribed by Section 86.006(b);
 (2)  the conditions for delivery by common or contract
 carrier prescribed by Sections 81.005 and 86.006;
 (3)  the requirements for the legal execution and
 delivery of the carrier envelope, including the prohibition on
 compensation for depositing carrier envelopes containing ballots
 voted by other persons under Section 86.0052;
 (4)  the prohibition prescribed by Section 86.006(e);
 and
 (5)  the offenses prescribed by Sections 86.006(f) and
 86.010(f).
 (g)  The secretary of state by rule shall require that a
 notice informing voters of the telephone number established under
 Section 31.0055 and the purpose of the telephone number be printed
 on[:
 [(1)  the official carrier envelope; or
 [(2)]  an insert enclosed with the balloting materials
 for voting by mail sent to the voter.
 SECTION 2.  Section 87.041, Election Code, is amended by
 adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
 (g)  The board may not reject a ballot solely on the grounds
 that a signature on the carrier envelope certificate is not located
 entirely in the space provided for the signature.
 SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
 an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. An
 election ordered before the effective date of this Act is governed
 by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and the former
 law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.