Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2484 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R2353 TSS-D
2	2	By: Herrero H.B. No. 2484
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to automatic voter registration on issuance or change of a
8	8	driver's license or identification card by the Department of Public
9	9	Safety.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	ARTICLE 1. VOTER REGISTRAR, APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION, INITIAL
12	12	REGISTRATION, AND RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION
13	13	SECTION 1.01. Section 12.001, Election Code, is amended to
14	14	read as follows:
15	15	Sec. 12.001. DESIGNATION OF VOTER REGISTRAR. (a) Except as
16	16	provided by Subsection (b), the [The] county tax assessor-collector
17	17	is the voter registrar for the county unless the position of county
18	18	elections administrator is created or the county clerk is
19	19	designated as the voter registrar.
20	20	(b) The secretary of state is the voter registrar for the
21	21	purpose of the registration of voters and maintenance of the list of
22	22	registered voters. The voter registrar designated under Subsection
23	23	(a) is the voter registrar for all other purposes.
24	24	SECTION 1.02. Section 12.004, Election Code, is amended to
25	25	read as follows:
26	26	Sec. 12.004. OFFICE HOURS. (a) [The registrar shall
27	27	conduct voter registration activities at all times during regular
28	28	office hours.
29	29	[(b) The registrar may keep the office open for voter
30	30	registration activities at times other than regular office hours.
31	31	The registrar shall post notice of the irregular days and hours the
32	32	office will be open. The notice must remain posted continuously at
33	33	each entrance to the registrar's office for the period beginning
34	34	not later than the third day before the day the office is to be open
35	35	during irregular hours and ending after the last time specified in
36	36	the notice for the office to be open.
37	37	[(c)] The registrar's office shall remain open [for voter
38	38	registration activities] during the hours the polls are required to
39	39	be open for voting on the date of any general or primary election in
40	40	which a statewide office appears on the ballot or any other election
41	41	held in the county on a uniform election date.
42	42	(b) [(d)] If early voting by personal appearance is
43	43	required to be conducted for extended hours under Section 85.005(c)
44	44	or for weekend hours under Section 85.006(e), the registrar's
45	45	office shall remain open for providing voter registration
46	46	information during the extended hours or weekend hours that the
47	47	main early voting polling place is open for voting.
48	48	SECTION 1.03. Section 13.001(b), Election Code, is amended
49	49	to read as follows:
50	50	(b) To be eligible to apply for registration, a person must,
51	51	on the date the registration application is submitted to the
52	52	secretary of state [registrar], be at least 17 years and 10 months
53	53	of age and satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) except for
54	54	age.
55	55	SECTION 1.04. The heading to Section 13.002, Election Code,
56	56	is amended to read as follows:
57	57	Sec. 13.002. OPTIONAL APPLICATION [REQUIRED].
58	58	SECTION 1.05. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by
59	59	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (j) to read as
60	60	follows:
61	61	(a) A person desiring to register to vote may [must] submit
62	62	an application to the secretary of state or to the registrar of the
63	63	county in which the person resides, who must forward the
64	64	application to the secretary of state not later than the fifth day
65	65	after the date the application is submitted. Except as provided by
66	66	Subsection (e), an application must be submitted by personal
67	67	delivery, by mail, or by telephonic facsimile machine in accordance
68	68	with Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2).
69	69	(j) Nothing in this section shall prevent a person from
70	70	becoming registered to vote as provided by Section 13.009.
71	71	SECTION 1.06. Section 13.0021, Election Code, is amended by
72	72	adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
73	73	(c) A federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a federal
74	74	judge or state judge who is automatically registered to vote under
75	75	Section 13.009 and seeks to have a residence address omitted from
76	76	the registration list shall submit an affidavit to the secretary of
77	77	state stating that the individual is a federal judge or state judge
78	78	or the spouse of a federal judge or state judge.
79	79	SECTION 1.07. The heading to Section 13.004, Election Code,
80	80	is amended to read as follows:
81	81	Sec. 13.004. RECORDING AND DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN
82	82	INFORMATION [BY REGISTRAR].
83	83	SECTION 1.08. Sections 13.004(a), (b), (c-1), and (d),
84	84	Election Code, are amended to read as follows:
85	85	(a) The secretary of state [registrar] may not transcribe,
86	86	copy, or otherwise record a telephone number furnished on a
87	87	registration application.
88	88	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] may transcribe,
89	89	copy, or otherwise record a social security number furnished on a
90	90	registration application only in maintaining the accuracy of the
91	91	registration records.
92	92	(c-1) The secretary of state and the registrar shall ensure
93	93	that the information listed in Subsection (c) is excluded from
94	94	disclosure, except that the secretary of state [registrar] shall
95	95	forward to the county chair of each county executive committee the
96	96	information necessary to contact applicants who indicate interest
97	97	in working as an election judge.
98	98	(d) The secretary of state, voter registrar, or other county
99	99	official who has access to the information furnished on a
100	100	registration application may not post the following information on
101	101	a website:
102	102	(1) a telephone number;
103	103	(2) a social security number;
104	104	(3) a driver's license number or a number of a personal
105	105	identification card;
106	106	(4) a date of birth; or
107	107	(5) the residence address of a voter who submits
108	108	documentation under Subsection (c)(5), (6), (7), or (8) to the
109	109	secretary of state [voter registrar] or regarding whom the
110	110	registrar has received notification under Section 13.0021(c) or
111	111	15.0215.
112	112	SECTION 1.09. Section 13.004(c), Election Code, as amended
113	113	by Chapters 469 (H.B. 4173), 489 (H.B. 3100), and 1146 (H.B. 2910),
114	114	Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, is reenacted
115	115	and amended to read as follows:
116	116	(c) The following information furnished on a registration
117	117	application is confidential and does not constitute public
118	118	information for purposes of Chapter 552, Government Code:
119	119	(1) a social security number;
120	120	(2) a Texas driver's license number;
121	121	(3) a number of a personal identification card issued
122	122	by the Department of Public Safety;
123	123	(4) an indication that an applicant is interested in
124	124	working as an election judge;
125	125	(5) the residence address of the applicant, if the
126	126	applicant is a federal judge or state judge, the spouse of a federal
127	127	judge or state judge, the spouse of a peace officer as defined by
128	128	Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or an individual to whom
129	129	Section 552.1175, Government Code, or Section 521.1211,
130	130	Transportation Code, applies and the applicant:
131	131	(A) included an affidavit with the registration
132	132	application describing the applicant's status under this
133	133	subdivision, if the applicant is a federal judge or state judge or
134	134	the spouse of a federal judge or state judge;
135	135	(B) provided the secretary of state [registrar]
136	136	with an affidavit describing the applicant's status under this
137	137	subdivision, if the applicant is a federal judge or state judge or
138	138	the spouse of a federal judge or state judge; or
139	139	(C) provided the secretary of state [registrar]
140	140	with a completed form approved by the secretary of state for that
141	141	[the] purpose [of notifying the registrar of the applicant's status
142	142	under this subdivision];
143	143	(6) the residence address of the applicant, if the
144	144	applicant, the applicant's child, or another person in the
145	145	applicant's household is a victim of family violence as defined by
146	146	Section 71.004, Family Code, who provided the secretary of state
147	147	[registrar] with:
148	148	(A) a copy of a protective order issued under
149	149	Chapter 85, Family Code, or a magistrate's order for emergency
150	150	protection issued under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure;
151	151	or
152	152	(B) other independent documentary evidence
153	153	necessary to show that the applicant, the applicant's child, or
154	154	another person in the applicant's household is a victim of family
155	155	violence;
156	156	(7) the residence address of the applicant, if the
157	157	applicant, the applicant's child, or another person in the
158	158	applicant's household is a victim of sexual assault or abuse,
159	159	stalking, or trafficking of persons who provided the secretary of
160	160	state [registrar] with:
161	161	(A) a copy of a protective order issued under
162	162	Subchapter A or B, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, or a
163	163	magistrate's order for emergency protection issued under Article
164	164	17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
165	165	(B) other independent documentary evidence
166	166	necessary to show that the applicant, the applicant's child, or
167	167	another person in the applicant's household is a victim of sexual
168	168	assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons;
169	169	(8) the residence address of the applicant, if the
170	170	applicant:
171	171	(A) is a participant in the address
172	172	confidentiality program administered by the attorney general under
173	173	Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure; and
174	174	(B) provided the secretary of state [registrar]
175	175	with proof of certification under Article 58.059, Code of Criminal
176	176	Procedure; or
177	177	(9) the telephone number of any applicant submitting
178	178	documentation under Subdivision (5), (6), (7), or (8).
179	179	SECTION 1.10. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
180	180	amended by adding Sections 13.009 and 13.010 to read as follows:
181	181	Sec. 13.009. VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF
182	182	PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) The secretary of state shall automatically
183	183	register any individual who is eligible to vote as provided by
184	184	Section 13.001 and:
185	185	(1) is issued a Texas driver's license or a personal
186	186	identification card by the Department of Public Safety; or
187	187	(2) makes a change to a Texas driver's license or
188	188	personal identification card issued by the Department of Public
189	189	Safety.
190	190	(b) A driver's license or personal identification card
191	191	transaction with an indication provided by Section 20.062(b) or
192	192	20.063(c) that the transaction is not for voter registration
193	193	purposes is not subject to this section.
194	194	Sec. 13.010. PAPER APPLICATION FOR VOTER REGISTRATION. The
195	195	secretary of state shall post on its Internet website voter
196	196	registration application forms that may be printed and submitted to
197	197	the secretary of state or to the registrar of the county in which
198	198	the person resides in:
199	199	(1) English; and
200	200	(2) any language other than English for which over
201	201	five percent of the total voting age citizens of a political
202	202	subdivision in this state are members of that single minority
203	203	language group.
204	204	SECTION 1.11. Section 13.071, Election Code, is amended to
205	205	read as follows:
206	206	Sec. 13.071. REVIEW OF APPLICATION. (a) The secretary of
207	207	state [registrar] shall review each submitted application for
208	208	registration to determine whether it complies with Section 13.002
209	209	and indicates that the applicant is eligible for registration.
210	210	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] shall make the
211	211	determination not later than the seventh day after the date the
212	212	application is submitted to the secretary of state [registrar].
213	213	SECTION 1.12. Sections 13.072(a), (b), and (c), Election
214	214	Code, are amended to read as follows:
215	215	(a) The secretary of state [Unless the registrar challenges
216	216	the applicant, the registrar] shall approve the application if:
217	217	(1) the secretary of state [registrar] determines that
218	218	an application complies with Section 13.002 and indicates that the
219	219	applicant is eligible for registration; and
220	220	(2) for an applicant who has not included a statement
221	221	described by Section 13.002(c)(8)(C) or for an applicant who does
222	222	not register under Section 13.009, the [registrar verifies with
223	223	the] secretary of state verifies:
224	224	(A) the applicant's Texas driver's license number
225	225	or number of a personal identification card issued by the
226	226	Department of Public Safety; or
227	227	(B) the last four digits of the applicant's
228	228	social security number.
229	229	(b) After approval of an application by an applicant who was
230	230	registered in another county at the time of application, the
231	231	secretary of state [registrar] shall update the statewide voter
232	232	registration list to reflect [deliver written notice of the
233	233	applicant's change of residence to the other county's registrar and
234	234	include in the notice] the applicant's change in county of [name,
235	235	former] residence [address, and former registration number, if
236	236	known].
237	237	(c) If [Except as provided by Subsection (d), if] the
238	238	secretary of state [registrar] determines that an application does
239	239	not comply with Section 13.002 or does not indicate that the
240	240	applicant is eligible for registration, the secretary of state
241	241	[registrar] shall reject the application.
242	242	SECTION 1.13. Subchapter C, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
243	243	amended by adding Section 13.0725 to read as follows:
244	244	Sec. 13.0725. PROCESS FOR VERIFICATION OF APPLICANT'S TEXAS
245	245	DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUED
246	246	PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. (a) The
247	247	secretary of state shall adopt rules establishing standards used
248	248	for the verification of information on a voter registration
249	249	application submitted under Section 13.072(a)(2)(A). The rules
250	250	shall provide a process by which the secretary of state verifies an
251	251	applicant's Texas driver's license number or Department of Public
252	252	Safety issued personal identification card number if, based on the
253	253	available information, a minor correction in the applicant's last
254	254	name or date of birth would lead a reasonable person to conclude
255	255	that the number submitted is the correct number for that applicant.
256	256	(b) If available, the secretary of state shall review the
257	257	name and date of birth maintained by the Department of Public Safety
258	258	or other agency used in the verification process for a submitted
259	259	application that corresponds to the Texas driver's license number,
260	260	Department of Public Safety issued personal identification card
261	261	number, or social security number submitted by the applicant if:
262	262	(1) the secretary of state cannot verify the accuracy
263	263	of an applicant's Texas driver's license number, Department of
264	264	Public Safety issued personal identification card number, or social
265	265	security number as submitted by the applicant; or
266	266	(2) the secretary of state verifies the accuracy of
267	267	the number provided, but it is not a perfect match with the personal
268	268	information provided by the applicant.
269	269	(c) If the application was not otherwise verified under this
270	270	section and the secretary of state determines that a governmental
271	271	clerical error was made in processing or submitting the
272	272	application, the secretary of state shall correct the registration
273	273	record and submit the corrected record for verification under
274	274	Section 13.072(a)(2).
275	275	SECTION 1.14. Section 13.073, Election Code, is amended to
276	276	read as follows:
277	277	Sec. 13.073. NOTICE OF REJECTION. (a) Except as provided
278	278	by Subsection (b), the secretary of state [registrar] shall deliver
279	279	written notice of the reason for the rejection of an application to
280	280	the applicant not later than the second day after the date of
281	281	rejection. If an application is rejected because it was not
282	282	verified under Section 13.072, the notice shall indicate whether
283	283	the last name, date of birth, Texas driver's license number,
284	284	Department of Public Safety issued personal identification card
285	285	number, or social security number was the reason for the failure to
286	286	verify, if that information is provided to the secretary of state
287	287	under Section 13.0725.
288	288	(b) If the secretary of state [registrar] rejects an
289	289	application in the applicant's presence, at that time the secretary
290	290	of state [registrar] shall orally inform the applicant of the
291	291	reason for the rejection. If the rejection is for incompleteness,
292	292	the secretary of state [registrar] shall return the application to
293	293	the applicant for completion and resubmission.
294	294	(c) If the secretary of state [registrar] rejects an
295	295	application for incompleteness but receives a completed
296	296	application not later than the 10th day after the date the notice is
297	297	delivered under Subsection (a) or the date the incomplete
298	298	application is returned under Subsection (b), as applicable, the
299	299	original date of submission of the incomplete application is
300	300	considered to be the date of submission to the secretary of state
301	301	[registrar] for the purpose of determining the effective date of
302	302	registration.
303	303	SECTION 1.15. Sections 13.074(a) and (b), Election Code,
304	304	are amended to read as follows:
305	305	(a) If after the secretary of state determines
306	306	[determining] that an application complies with Section 13.002 and
307	307	indicates that the applicant is eligible for registration, the
308	308	registrar has reason to believe the applicant is not eligible for
309	309	registration or the application was submitted in an unauthorized
310	310	manner, the registrar shall challenge the applicant.
311	311	(b) The registrar shall indicate on the statewide
312	312	computerized voter registration list [application of a challenged
313	313	applicant] that the applicant's eligibility or the manner of
314	314	submission of the application has been challenged and the date of
315	315	the challenge.
316	316	SECTION 1.16. Section 13.080, Election Code, is amended to
317	317	read as follows:
318	318	Sec. 13.080. RECORDING REJECTION. On rejection of an
319	319	applicant's registration application by a registrar under Section
320	320	13.079, the registrar shall inform the secretary of state and the
321	321	secretary of state shall enter the date of and reason for the
322	322	rejection on the application.
323	323	SECTION 1.17. Sections 13.101(a) and (b), Election Code,
324	324	are amended to read as follows:
325	325	(a) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain a file
326	326	containing the approved registration applications of the
327	327	registered voters of the state [county].
328	328	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain the
329	329	file in alphabetical order by voter name on a county by county
330	330	[countywide] basis. However, the secretary of state [registrar] may
331	331	maintain the file in numerical order by registration number if the
332	332	secretary of state [registrar] regularly maintains a list of
333	333	registered voters in alphabetical order by voter name on a county by
334	334	county [countywide] basis.
335	335	SECTION 1.18. Sections 13.102(a), (b), and (c), Election
336	336	Code, are amended to read as follows:
337	337	(a) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain a file
338	338	containing the rejected applications of applicants for
339	339	registration.
340	340	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain a
341	341	file, separate from the file maintained under Subsection (a),
342	342	containing the applications of the voters whose registrations have
343	343	been canceled.
344	344	(c) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain each
345	345	file in alphabetical order by applicant or voter name on a county by
346	346	county [countywide] basis.
347	347	SECTION 1.19. Section 13.103, Election Code, is amended to
348	348	read as follows:
349	349	Sec. 13.103. PLACE FOR KEEPING FILES; SECURITY. (a) The
350	350	registration application files maintained under this subchapter
351	351	shall be kept in the secretary of state's [registrar's] office at
352	352	all times in a place and manner ensuring their security.
353	353	(b) Applications may be removed from the secretary of
354	354	state's [registrar's] office temporarily, in a manner ensuring
355	355	their security, for use in preparing registration certificates,
356	356	lists of registered voters, and other registration documents by
357	357	electronic data-processing methods.
358	358	SECTION 1.20. Section 13.104(a), Election Code, is amended
359	359	to read as follows:
360	360	(a) Instead of keeping the original registration
361	361	applications and supporting documentation as required by this
362	362	title, the secretary of state [registrar] may record the
363	363	applications and documentation on an optical disk or other computer
364	364	storage medium [approved by the secretary of state].
365	365	SECTION 1.21. Section 13.142(a), Election Code, is amended
366	366	to read as follows:
367	367	(a) The secretary of state shall notify the registrar of a
368	368	voter's registration as soon as practicable. After notification of
369	369	registration of a voter by the secretary of state under Section
370	370	13.009, or approval of a registration application by the secretary
371	371	of state, the registrar shall:
372	372	(1) prepare a voter registration certificate in
373	373	duplicate and issue the original certificate to the applicant; and
374	374	(2) enter the applicant's county election precinct
375	375	number and registration number on the applicant's registration
376	376	application.
377	377	SECTION 1.22. Sections 13.143(a), (d), (d-2), and (e),
378	378	Election Code, are amended to read as follows:
379	379	(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (e), if an
380	380	applicant's registration application is approved, the registration
381	381	becomes effective on the 30th day after the date the application is
382	382	submitted to the secretary of state [registrar] or on the date the
383	383	applicant becomes 18 years of age, whichever is later.
384	384	(d) For purposes of determining the effective date of a
385	385	registration, an application submitted by:
386	386	(1) mail is considered to be submitted to the
387	387	secretary of state [registrar] on the date it is placed with postage
388	388	prepaid and properly addressed in the United States mail; or
389	389	(2) telephonic facsimile machine is considered to be
390	390	submitted to the secretary of state [registrar] on the date the
391	391	transmission is received by the secretary of state [registrar],
392	392	subject to Subsection (d-2).
393	393	(d-2) For a registration application submitted by
394	394	telephonic facsimile machine to be effective, a copy of the
395	395	registration application must be submitted by mail and be received
396	396	by the secretary of state [registrar] not later than the fourth
397	397	business day after the transmission by telephonic facsimile machine
398	398	is received.
399	399	(e) If the 30th day before the date of an election is a
400	400	Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, an
401	401	application is considered to be timely if it is submitted to the
402	402	secretary of state [registrar] on or before the next regular
403	403	business day.
404	404	SECTION 1.23. Sections 13.144(a) and (b), Election Code,
405	405	are amended to read as follows:
406	406	(a) Not later than the 30th day after the date the registrar
407	407	receives notice from the secretary of state that an individual has
408	408	registered to vote [the application], the registrar shall deliver
409	409	the original of an initial certificate:
410	410	(1) in person to the applicant or the applicant's agent
411	411	appointed under Section 13.003; or
412	412	(2) by mail to the applicant.
413	413	(b) If delivery is by mail, the registrar shall send the
414	414	certificate to the mailing address provided for the individual in
415	415	the statewide computerized voter [on the applicant's] registration
416	416	list [application].
417	417	SECTION 1.24. Section 14.002(a), Election Code, is amended
418	418	to read as follows:
419	419	(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the registrar
420	420	shall deliver a voter's renewal certificate by mail to the mailing
421	421	address provided for the individual in the statewide computerized
422	422	voter [on the voter's] registration list [application].
423	423	SECTION 1.25. Section 15.021(c), Election Code, is amended
424	424	to read as follows:
425	425	(c) The registrar shall retain the notice on file [with the
426	426	voter's registration application]. If the correction is a change
427	427	of the voter's name, the registrar shall file the notice
428	428	[application] under the new name.
429	429	SECTION 1.26. Sections 15.0215(b) and (c), Election Code,
430	430	are amended to read as follows:
431	431	(b) On receiving notice from the Office of Court
432	432	Administration of the Texas Judicial System of the person's
433	433	qualification for office as a federal judge or state judge and of
434	434	the name of the judge's spouse, if applicable, the secretary of
435	435	state [registrar of the county in which the judge resides] shall:
436	436	(1) omit from the statewide computerized voter
437	437	registration list the residence address of the judge and the spouse
438	438	of the judge; and
439	439	(2) prepare a memorandum of the notice, indicating the
440	440	substance and date of the notification, and retain the memorandum
441	441	on file with the application.
442	442	(c) A registered district voter who wishes to verify that an
443	443	elected judge whose personal identifying information is
444	444	confidential under Section 552.1175, Government Code, resides in
445	445	the district may request in writing that the secretary of state
446	446	[registrar] certify the judge lives in the district. The secretary
447	447	of state [registrar] shall exercise due diligence in determining
448	448	the residence of the judge and respond to the voter in writing not
449	449	later than the 10th business day after the date the request is
450	450	received on whether the judge resides in the district. The
451	451	secretary of state [registrar] may not release the address of the
452	452	judge. The secretary of state [registrar] is not required to
453	453	certify the residence of the same judge more than once in a calendar
454	454	year, but must provide copies of the certification to subsequent
455	455	requestors.
456	456	SECTION 1.27. Section 15.053(c), Election Code, is amended
457	457	to read as follows:
458	458	(c) The registrar shall submit [act on] the response to the
459	459	secretary of state for action in accordance with Section 13.072 and
460	460	retain the response on file [with the voter's registration
461	461	application].
462	462	SECTION 1.28. Section 16.005, Election Code, is amended to
463	463	read as follows:
464	464	Sec. 16.005. PRESERVATION OF ABSTRACT. If an abstract
465	465	received under this subchapter affects a registered voter of the
466	466	county, the registrar shall retain a copy of the abstract on file
467	467	[with the affected voter's registration application].
468	468	SECTION 1.29. Section 16.031(a), Election Code, is amended
469	469	to read as follows:
470	470	(a) The registrar shall cancel a voter's registration
471	471	immediately on receipt of:
472	472	(1) notice under Section [13.072(b) or] 15.021 or a
473	473	response under Section 15.053 that the voter's residence is outside
474	474	the county;
475	475	(2) an abstract of the voter's death certificate under
476	476	Section 16.001(a) or an abstract of an application indicating that
477	477	the voter is deceased under Section 16.001(b);
478	478	(3) an abstract of a final judgment of the voter's
479	479	total mental incapacity, partial mental incapacity without the
480	480	right to vote, conviction of a felony, or disqualification under
481	481	Section 16.002, 16.003, or 16.004;
482	482	(4) notice under Section 112.012 that the voter has
483	483	applied for a limited ballot in another county;
484	484	(5) notice from a voter registration official in
485	485	another state that the voter has registered to vote outside this
486	486	state;
487	487	(6) notice from the early voting clerk under Section
488	488	101.053 that a federal postcard application submitted by an
489	489	applicant states a voting residence address located outside the
490	490	registrar's county; or
491	491	(7) notice from the secretary of state that the voter
492	492	has registered to vote in another county, as determined by the
493	493	voter's driver's license number or personal identification card
494	494	number issued by the Department of Public Safety or social security
495	495	number.
496	496	SECTION 1.30. Section 16.033(f), Election Code, is amended
497	497	to read as follows:
498	498	(f) The registrar shall retain a copy of the notice mailed
499	499	to a voter under this section on file [with the voter's registration
500	500	application]. If the voter's reply to the notice is in writing, the
501	501	registrar shall also retain the reply on file [with the
502	502	application]. If the reply is oral, the registrar shall prepare a
503	503	memorandum of the reply, indicating the substance and date of the
504	504	reply, and shall retain the memorandum on file [with the
505	505	application].
506	506	SECTION 1.31. Section 16.0331(c), Election Code, is amended
507	507	to read as follows:
508	508	(c) The registrar shall retain the request on file [with the
509	509	voter's registration application].
510	510	SECTION 1.32. Section 16.034, Election Code, is amended to
511	511	read as follows:
512	512	Sec. 16.034. RECORDING CANCELLATION. On cancellation of a
513	513	voter's registration, the registrar shall notify the secretary of
514	514	state of [enter] the date of and reason for the cancellation and the
515	515	secretary of state shall record the information on the voter's
516	516	registration application and duplicate registration certificate
517	517	and make any other appropriate corrections in the registration
518	518	records.
519	519	SECTION 1.33. Section 16.037(c), Election Code, is amended
520	520	to read as follows:
521	521	(c) On reinstatement of a registration, the registrar shall
522	522	notify the secretary of state of [enter] the date of and reason for
523	523	the reinstatement and the secretary of state shall record the
524	524	information on the voter's registration application and duplicate
525	525	registration certificate, make any appropriate corrections in the
526	526	registration records, and take any other action necessary to give
527	527	effect to the reinstatement.
528	528	SECTION 1.34. Section 31.040(b), Election Code, is amended
529	529	to read as follows:
530	530	(b) The commissioners court or the administrator may
531	531	require any or all of the administrator's deputies[, other than
532	532	unpaid volunteer deputy registrars,] to give a bond similar to that
533	533	required of the administrator in an amount not exceeding the amount
534	534	of the administrator's bond.
535	535	SECTION 1.35. Section 31.161(b), Election Code, is amended
536	536	to read as follows:
537	537	(b) The joint elections commission or the joint elections
538	538	administrator may require any or all of the administrator's
539	539	deputies[, other than unpaid volunteer deputy registrars,] to give
540	540	a bond similar to that required of the administrator in an amount
541	541	not exceeding the amount of the administrator's bond.
542	542	SECTION 1.36. To the extent of any conflict, this article
543	543	prevails over another Act of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session,
544	544	2021, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in
545	545	enacted codes.
546	546	ARTICLE 2. PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING REGISTERED VOTERS
547	547	SECTION 2.01. Section 18.006, Election Code, is amended to
548	548	read as follows:
549	549	Sec. 18.006. DELIVERY OF LISTS TO ELECTION AUTHORITIES.
550	550	The registrar shall deliver the lists furnished under this
551	551	subchapter, including the lists furnished under Section 18.007, to
552	552	the appropriate authority as soon as practicable after the request
553	553	but in every case in time for receipt before the beginning of early
554	554	voting by mail for the election in which the lists are to be used.
555	555	If those lists do not contain the names of all voters who will be
556	556	eligible to vote as of the beginning of early voting by personal
557	557	appearance, another set of the appropriate lists shall be delivered
558	558	before the beginning of early voting by personal appearance. If
559	559	those lists do not contain the names of all voters whose
560	560	registrations will be effective on election day, another set of the
561	561	appropriate lists shall be delivered as soon as practicable after
562	562	the secretary of state [registrar] has processed the remaining
563	563	applications.
564	564	SECTION 2.02. Sections 18.043(a) and (c), Election Code,
565	565	are amended to read as follows:
566	566	(a) The [At the times prescribed by the] secretary of
567	567	state[, the registrar] shall produce [deliver to the secretary] a
568	568	statement containing the voter registration information determined
569	569	[by the secretary] to be necessary to comply with reporting
570	570	requirements prescribed under federal law.
571	571	(c) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain the
572	572	information required for the statements in accordance with
573	573	procedures prescribed by this section [the secretary of state].
574	574	SECTION 2.03. Section 18.061(c), Election Code, is amended
575	575	to read as follows:
576	576	(c) Under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state,
577	577	the Department of Public Safety and each voter registrar shall
578	578	provide to the secretary of state on an expedited basis the
579	579	information necessary to maintain the registration list
580	580	established under Subsection (a). The procedures shall provide for
581	581	the electronic submission of the information and ensure that each
582	582	voter registrar collects and reports the correct month, day, and
583	583	year of birth for each registered voter.
584	584	SECTION 2.04. Section 63.0011(e), Election Code, is amended
585	585	to read as follows:
586	586	(e) The voter registrar shall retain each statement of
587	587	residence on file [with the voter's voter registration
588	588	application].
589	589	SECTION 2.05. Section 101.055(c), Election Code, is amended
590	590	to read as follows:
591	591	(c) Under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state,
592	592	the secretary of state [The registrar] shall register the person at
593	593	the address provided under Subsection (b) unless that address no
594	594	longer is recognized as a residential address, in which event the
595	595	secretary of state [registrar] shall assign the person to an
596	596	address [under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state].
597	597	SECTION 2.06. Section 112.012, Election Code, is amended to
598	598	read as follows:
599	599	Sec. 112.012. NOTIFICATION TO SECRETARY OF STATE [VOTER
600	600	REGISTRAR]. Not later than the 30th day after receipt of an
601	601	application for a limited ballot, the early voting clerk shall
602	602	notify the secretary of state [voter registrar for the voter's
603	603	former county of residence] that the voter has applied for a limited
604	604	ballot.
605	605	ARTICLE 3. VOTER REGISTRATION AGENCIES
606	606	SECTION 3.01. Section 20.008, Election Code, is amended to
607	607	read as follows:
608	608	Sec. 20.008. ASSISTANCE BY SECRETARY OF STATE [OR
609	609	REGISTRAR]. If a question arises concerning voter registration
610	610	that an agency employee cannot answer, the employee shall provide
611	611	the person[:
612	612	[(1)] the toll-free telephone number of the Elections
613	613	Division of the Office of the Secretary of State[; and
614	614	[(2) the telephone number of the voter registrar to
615	615	whom registration applications are submitted].
616	616	SECTION 3.02. Sections 20.033, 20.034, and 20.035, Election
617	617	Code, are amended to read as follows:
618	618	Sec. 20.033. EFFECT OF SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION TO
619	619	EMPLOYEE. The date of submission of a completed registration
620	620	application to the agency employee is considered to be the date of
621	621	submission to the secretary of state [voter registrar] for the
622	622	purpose of determining the effective date of registration only.
623	623	Sec. 20.034. SUBMISSION TO REGISTRAR BY APPLICANT. (a) The
624	624	applicant may keep the registration application form or the
625	625	completed application to submit the application personally to the
626	626	secretary of state or to the voter registrar of the county in which
627	627	the applicant resides.
628	628	(b) The agency employee shall enter on the declination of
629	629	registration form a notation that after being given the opportunity
630	630	to register, the applicant kept the application or application form
631	631	for personal submission of the application to the secretary of
632	632	state [registrar].
633	633	Sec. 20.035. DELIVERY OF APPLICATIONS TO SECRETARY OF STATE
634	634	[REGISTRAR]. (a) The agency shall deliver to the secretary of
635	635	state [voter registrar of the county in which the agency office is
636	636	located] each completed registration application submitted to an
637	637	agency employee.
638	638	(b) An application shall be delivered to the secretary of
639	639	state [registrar] not later than the fifth day after the date the
640	640	application is submitted to the employee.
641	641	SECTION 3.03. Section 20.037(c), Election Code, is amended
642	642	to read as follows:
643	643	(c) An application form delivered by mail must be
644	644	accompanied by a notice informing the applicant that the
645	645	application may be submitted in person or by mail to the secretary
646	646	of state or to the voter registrar of the county in which the
647	647	applicant resides [or in person to a volunteer deputy registrar for
648	648	delivery to the voter registrar of the county in which the applicant
649	649	resides].
650	650	SECTION 3.04. Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to
651	651	read as follows:
652	652	Sec. 20.061. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other
653	653	provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public Safety
654	654	except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or Section
655	655	13.009.
656	656	SECTION 3.05. Section 20.062(b), Election Code, is amended
657	657	to read as follows:
658	658	(b) The department shall prescribe and use a change of
659	659	address form and procedure that combines department and voter
660	660	registration functions. The form must allow a licensee or
661	661	cardholder to indicate that [whether] the change of address is not
662	662	[also to be used] for voter registration purposes.
663	663	SECTION 3.06. Section 20.063, Election Code, is amended to
664	664	read as follows:
665	665	Sec. 20.063. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a) The Department
666	666	of Public Safety shall consider an application made in person, by
667	667	mail, or online at the department's Internet website [provide to
668	668	each person who applies in person at the department's offices] for
669	669	an original or renewal of a driver's license, a personal
670	670	identification card, or a duplicate or corrected license or card by
671	671	a person who is eligible to vote as provided by Section 13.001 an
672	672	application for [opportunity to complete a] voter registration.
673	673	The date of application is considered to be the date of submission
674	674	to the secretary of state for the purpose of determining the
675	675	effective date of registration [application form].
676	676	(b) The Department of Public Safety shall consider a change
677	677	of address that relates to [When the department processes] a
678	678	license or card and that is submitted to [for renewal by mail,] the
679	679	department [shall deliver to the applicant by mail a voter
680	680	registration application form.
681	681	[(c) A change of address that relates to a license or card
682	682	and that is submitted to the department] in person, [or] by mail, or
683	683	online at the department's Internet website [serves] as a change in
684	684	[of address for] voter registration [unless the licensee or
685	685	cardholder indicates that the change is not for voter registration
686	686	purposes]. The date of submission of a change of address to a
687	687	department employee is considered to be the date of submission to
688	688	the secretary of state [voter registrar] for the purpose of
689	689	determining the effective date of registration [only].
690	690	(c) The registration of an eligible [(d) If a completed]
691	691	voter as required by Subsections (a) and (b) is automatic unless the
692	692	person indicates that the transaction is not for voter
693	693	registration purposes [application submitted to a department
694	694	employee does not include the applicant's correct driver's license
695	695	number or personal identification card number, a department
696	696	employee shall enter the appropriate information on the
697	697	application. If a completed application does not include the
698	698	applicant's correct residence address or mailing address, a
699	699	department employee shall obtain the appropriate information from
700	700	the applicant and enter the information on the application].
701	701	SECTION 3.07. Section 20.065(b), Election Code, is amended
702	702	to read as follows:
703	703	(b) Each weekday the department is regularly open for
704	704	business, the department shall electronically transfer to the
705	705	secretary of state the name and information designated by the
706	706	secretary of state for [of each person who completes a] voter
707	707	registration for each individual who is eligible to vote as
708	708	provided by Section 13.001 and applies in person, by mail, or online
709	709	at the department's Internet website for an original or renewal of a
710	710	driver's license, a personal identification card, or a duplicate or
711	711	corrected license or card [application submitted to the
712	712	department]. The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to
713	713	implement this subsection.
714	714	SECTION 3.08. Subchapter C, Chapter 20, Election Code, is
715	715	amended by adding Sections 20.067 and 20.068 to read as follows:
716	716	Sec. 20.067. AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION BEFORE TIME FOR RENEWAL
717	717	OR CHANGE OF ADDRESS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b),
718	718	not later than March 15 of each odd-numbered year, the Department of
719	719	Public Safety shall submit a voter registration application to the
720	720	secretary of state on behalf of a current holder of a driver's
721	721	license or personal identification card who is eligible to vote as
722	722	provided by Section 13.001 but who did not register to vote at the
723	723	time the person submitted an application form for a license or card
724	724	and who submitted an application form for a license or card on or
725	725	after January 1, 2019.
726	726	(b) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
727	727	department must notify each person described by Subsection (a) that
728	728	the department will submit the person's voter registration
729	729	application to the secretary of state. The notice must include a
730	730	declination of registration form prepared so that it may be mailed
731	731	free of United States postage and indicate that the form must be
732	732	received by the department on or before March 1 of the year in which
733	733	the notice is delivered or the department will submit the person's
734	734	application for voter registration to the secretary of state.
735	735	Sec. 20.068. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT. The Department of Public
736	736	Safety and the secretary of state shall develop printed materials
737	737	and a public service announcement to inform the public about
738	738	automatic voter registration.
739	739	SECTION 3.09. Section 20.122(c), Election Code, is amended
740	740	to read as follows:
741	741	(c) The application forms must be accompanied by a notice
742	742	informing the licensees that the applications may be submitted in
743	743	person or by mail to the secretary of state or to the voter
744	744	registrar of the county in which they reside [or in person to a
745	745	volunteer deputy registrar for delivery to the voter registrar of
746	746	the county in which they reside].
747	747	ARTICLE 4. PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATES
748	748	SECTION 4.01. Section 521.422(a), Transportation Code, is
749	749	amended to read as follows:
750	750	(a) The fee for a personal identification certificate is:
751	751	(1) waived for an individual eligible to register to
752	752	vote under Section 13.001, Election Code;
753	753	(2) $15 for a person under 60 years of age;
754	754	(3) [(2)] $5 for a person 60 years of age or older; and
755	755	(4) [(3)] $20 for a person subject to the registration
756	756	requirements under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
757	757	ARTICLE 5. REPEALER; EFFECTIVE DATE
758	758	SECTION 5.01. The following provisions of the Election Code
759	759	are repealed:
760	760	(1) Section 12.002;
761	761	(2) Section 12.005;
762	762	(3) Section 12.006;
763	763	(4) Subchapter B, Chapter 13;
764	764	(5) Section 13.072(d);
765	765	(6) Section 13.121(c);
766	766	(7) Section 20.064; and
767	767	(8) Sections 20.065(a) and (c).
768	768	SECTION 5.02. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.