87R8446 TSS-D
By: Bucy H.B. No. 3526
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to electronic voter registration through a voter
registration agency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as
follows:
(a) A person desiring to register to vote must submit an
application to the registrar of the county in which the person
resides. Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (e) and
(e-1), an application must be submitted by personal delivery, by
mail, or by telephonic facsimile machine in accordance with
Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2).
(e-1) A registrar shall adopt procedures to allow a voter
registration agency to deliver a completed voter registration
application over the Internet. The secretary of state shall review
any procedures adopted under this section to ensure the procedures
comply with the provisions of this code.
SECTION 2. Section 20.032, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 20.032. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a) An appropriate
agency employee shall routinely inform each person who applies [in
person] for agency services of the opportunity to complete a voter
registration application form and on request shall provide
nonpartisan voter registration assistance to the applicant.
(b) An agency that provides services at a person's residence
shall provide the opportunity to complete the form and the
assistance under Subsection (a) at the residence.
(c) On receipt of a registration application, the
appropriate agency employee shall review it for completeness [in
the applicant's presence]. If the application does not contain all
the required information and the required signature, the agency
employee shall return the application to the applicant for
completion and resubmission.
(d) Information regarding the agency or office to which an
application is submitted is confidential and may be used only for
voter registration purposes.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an agency
shall adopt procedures providing for:
(1) a person applying for initial services,
recertification, renewal, or change of address with the agency over
the Internet to also complete a voter registration application
online; and
(2) the delivery of a voter registration application
to the voter registrar over the Internet.
(f) For purposes of a voter registration application
completed under this chapter, an electronic signature satisfies the
requirement that an application be signed under Section 13.002(b).
SECTION 3. Section 20.065(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) At the end of each day a Department of Public Safety
office is regularly open for business, the manager of the office
shall deliver [by mail or in person] to the voter registrar of the
county in which the office is located each completed voter
registration application and applicable change of address
submitted to a department employee.
SECTION 4. Section 20.092(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A public library shall provide to each person of voting
age who applies [in person] for an original or renewal of a library
card an opportunity to complete a voter registration application
form.
SECTION 5. (a) The voter registrar of a county must adopt
procedures for the acceptance of voter registration applications
under Section 13.002(e-1), Election Code, as added by this Act, not
later than September 1, 2021.
(b) A voter registration agency must adopt procedures as
required by Section 20.032(e), Election Code, as added by this Act,
not later than September 1, 2021.
SECTION 6. 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 September 1, 2021.