87R3398 SGM-D
By: Bucy H.B. No. 1382
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an electronic system to monitor the status of a ballot
voted by mail application and ballot.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 86, Election Code, is amended by adding
Section 86.015 to read as follows:
Sec. 86.015. ELECTRONIC TRACKING FOR APPLICATION FOR BALLOT
VOTED BY MAIL OR BALLOT VOTED BY MAIL. (a) The early voting clerk
shall develop and maintain an electronic system that allows a
voter, using the Internet website of the early voting clerk, to
monitor the status of:
(1) the voter's application for a ballot voted by mail;
and
(2) the voter's ballot voted by mail.
(b) The system developed under Subsection (a) must require
the voter to provide, before permitting the voter to access
information described by that subsection:
(1) the voter's name and voter registration number or
registration address; and
(2) the voter's:
(A) driver's license number;
(B) personal identification card number issued
by the Department of Public Safety; or
(C) social security number.
(c) The system must update the early voting clerk's Internet
website as soon as practicable after each of the following events
occurs:
(1) receipt by the early voting clerk of the person's
application for a ballot to be voted by mail;
(2) acceptance or rejection by the early voting clerk
of the person's application for a ballot to be voted by mail;
(3) placement in the mail by the early voting clerk of
the person's official ballot;
(4) receipt by the early voting clerk of the person's
marked ballot; and
(5) acceptance or rejection by the early voting ballot
board of a person's marked ballot.
(d) The information contained in Subsection (c) is public
information for the purposes of Chapter 552, Government Code.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply
beginning with an application for a ballot to be voted by mail for
an election held on or after January 1, 2022.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.