| 1 | 1 | | 86R9075 ADM-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Allen H.B. No. 3251 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to signature verification on an early voting ballot voted |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | by mail. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 87.027, Election Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | adding Subsection (i-1) to read as follows: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | (i-1) In making the determination under Subsection (i), the |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | Signature Verification committee may only determine whether the |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | handwriting on the certificate and application indicates that the |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | same person executed both signatures. The committee may not |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | determine that two signatures were not executed by the same person |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | on the basis of which version of the same name the person used, |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | including: |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (1) the inclusion of a middle name or initial in one |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | signature that is omitted in the other; |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (2) the use of a common nickname in one signature and a |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | formal name in the other; or |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (3) a variation between the two signatures of the |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | order of the person's first, middle, and last name. |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | SECTION 2. Section 87.041, Election Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (h) In making the determination under Subsection (b)(2), |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | the board may only determine whether the handwriting on the |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | certificate and application indicates that the same person executed |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | both signatures. The board may not determine that two signatures |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | were not executed by the same person on the basis of which version |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | of the same name the person used, including: |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (1) the inclusion of a middle name or initial in one |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | signature that is omitted in the other; |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | (2) the use of a common nickname in one signature and a |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | formal name in the other; or |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | (3) a variation between the two signatures of the |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | order of the person's first, middle, and last name. |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
|---|