87R8009 ADM-D By: Jetton H.B. No. 2320 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to creating the criminal offense of pre-filling an application for a ballot to be voted by mail. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 84.0042 to read as follows: Sec. 84.0042. PRE-FILLING APPLICATION FOR BALLOT BY MAIL. (a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) indicates the ground of eligibility for early voting on an application for ballot by mail; and (2) distributes the application to an applicant with intent that the applicant will submit the application on the applicant's behalf to the early voting clerk. (b) An offense under this section is a state jail felony. (c) It is an exception to the application of Subsection (a) that the person signed the application for the ballot as a witness or otherwise assisted the applicant under Section 84.003. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.