85R4265 GRM-D
By: Rodriguez of Bexar H.B. No. 952
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of e-mail on a vote by mail application.
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 and e-mail address, 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) a space for an applicant applying on the
ground of age or disability to indicate if the application is an
application under Section 86.0015;
(G) spaces for entering the signature, printed
name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant;
(H) a statement informing the applicant of the
condition prescribed by Section 81.005; and
(I) a statement informing the applicant of the
requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c).
SECTION 2. Section 86.001, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (f) and (f-1) to read as follows:
(f) The early voting clerk, before rejecting an
application, shall make a reasonable effort to contact the
applicant by e-mail at any e-mail address provided on the
application, to ask questions about the application. The applicant
may make clerical corrections to the application by e-mail,
including correcting the applicant's date of birth, correcting
spelling of the applicant's name, or providing additional
information to make corrections to an address or county of
residence. If an applicant has submitted an address that is not an
acceptable mailing address, the applicant may submit to the early
voting clerk a mailing address by e-mail. If the early voting clerk
does not receive a response before the fourth day after the date the
clerk sent an e-mail to the e-mail address provided on the
application, the clerk may reject the application. The early
voting clerk shall attach to and maintain with the original
application submissions and corrections provided by e-mail under
this subsection.
(f-1) An applicant may not change the address or county of
residence submitted on the original application to a different
address or county of residence by e-mail.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.