85S10058 ADM-F
By: Swanson H.B. No. 96
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to signature verification on an early voting ballot voted
by mail.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 87.027(i), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(i) The signature verification committee shall compare the
signature on each carrier envelope certificate, except those signed
for a voter by a witness, with the signature on the voter's ballot
application to determine whether the signatures are those of the
same person. The committee may also compare the signatures with
any two or more signatures of the voter made within the preceding
six years and on file with the general custodian of election records
or voter registrar [the signature on the voter's registration
application] to confirm that the signatures are those of the same
person and may [but may not] use the signatures [registration
application signature] to determine that the signatures are not
those of the same person. Except as provided by Subsection (l), a
determination under this subsection that the signatures are not
those of the same person must be made by a majority vote of the
committee's membership. The committee shall place the jacket
envelopes, carrier envelopes, and applications of voters whose
signatures are not those of the same person in separate containers
from those of voters whose signatures are those of the same
person. The committee chair shall deliver the sorted materials to
the early voting ballot board at the time specified by the board's
presiding judge.
SECTION 2. Section 87.041(e), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(e) In making the determination under Subsection (b)(2),
the board may also compare the signatures with any two or more
signatures of the voter made within the preceding six years and on
file with the general custodian of election records or voter
registrar to determine if [confirm that] the signatures are those
of the same person [but may not use the signatures to determine that
the signatures are not those of the same person].
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 December 1, 2017.