Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB46 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	~~87R15342~~ SGM-D
	1	+	87R2316 SGM-D
2	2		By: Fierro H.B. No. 46
3		-	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 46:
4		-	By: Fierro C.S.H.B. No. 46
5	3
6	4
7	5		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	6		AN ACT
9		-	relating to the ~~opportunity to correct~~ a vote by mail application.
	7	+	relating to the use of e-mail on a vote by mail application.
10	8		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	9		SECTION 1. Section 84.011(a), Election Code, is amended to
12	10		read as follows:
13	11		(a) The officially prescribed application form for an early
14	12		voting ballot must include:
15	13		(1) immediately preceding the signature space the
16	14		statement: "I certify that the information given in this
17	15		application is true, and I understand that giving false information
18	16		in this application is a crime.";
19	17		(2) a statement informing the applicant of the
20	18		offenses prescribed by Sections 84.003 and 84.004;
21	19		(3) spaces for entering an applicant's voter
22	20		registration number and county election precinct of registration,
23	21		with a statement informing the applicant that failure to furnish
24	22		that information does not invalidate the application; and
25	23		(4) on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail:
26	24		(A) a space for an applicant applying on the
27	25		ground of absence from the county of residence to indicate the date
28	26		on or after which the applicant can receive mail at the address
29	27		outside the county;
30	28		(B) a space for indicating the fact that an
31	29		applicant whose application is signed by a witness cannot make the
32	30		applicant's mark and a space for indicating the relationship or
33	31		lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant;
34	32		(C) a space for entering an applicant's telephone
35	33		number and e-mail address, with a statement informing the applicant
36	34		that failure to furnish that information does not invalidate the
37	35		application;
38	36		(D) a space or box for an applicant applying on
39	37		the ground of age or disability to indicate that the address to
40	38		which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or
41	39		relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), if applicable;
42	40		(E) a space or box for an applicant applying on
43	41		the ground of confinement in jail to indicate that the address to
44	42		which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a relative
45	43		described by Section 84.002(a)(4), if applicable;
46	44		(F) a space for an applicant applying on the
47	45		ground of age or disability to indicate if the application is an
48	46		application under Section 86.0015;
49	47		(G) spaces for entering the signature, printed
50	48		name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant;
51	49		(H) a statement informing the applicant of the
52	50		condition prescribed by Section 81.005; and
53	51		(I) a statement informing the applicant of the
54	52		requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c).
55	53		SECTION 2. Section 86.001, Election Code, is amended by
56		-	adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
57		-	(f) The early voting clerk, before rejecting an application
58		-	on the basis of a clerical error, shall make a reasonable effort to
59		-	contact the applicant by telephone or e-mail at any telephone
60		-	number or e-mail address provided on the application to notify the
61		-	applicant of the error. The applicant may appear at the early
62		-	voting clerk's office to make clerical corrections to the
63		-	application or submit a new application after receiving notice
64		-	under this section. If the applicant does not appear at the early
65		-	voting clerk's office before the fourth day after the date the early
66		-	voting clerk contacted the applicant at the telephone number or
67		-	e-mail address provided on the application, the clerk may reject
68		-	the application. The early voting clerk shall attach to and
69		-	maintain with the original application any records created or
70		-	submitted under this subsection.
	54	+	adding Subsections (f) and (f-1) to read as follows:
	55	+	(f) The early voting clerk, before rejecting an
	56	+	application, shall make a reasonable effort to contact the
	57	+	applicant by e-mail at any e-mail address provided on the
	58	+	application, to ask questions about the application. The applicant
	59	+	may make clerical corrections to the application by e-mail,
	60	+	including correcting the applicant's date of birth, correcting
	61	+	spelling of the applicant's name, or providing additional
	62	+	information to make corrections to an address or county of
	63	+	residence. If an applicant has submitted an address that is not an
	64	+	acceptable mailing address, the applicant may submit to the early
	65	+	voting clerk a mailing address by e-mail. If the early voting clerk
	66	+	does not receive a response before the fourth day after the date the
	67	+	clerk sent an e-mail to the e-mail address provided on the
	68	+	application, the clerk may reject the application. The early
	69	+	voting clerk shall attach to and maintain with the original
	70	+	application submissions and corrections provided by e-mail under
	71	+	this subsection.
	72	+	(f-1) An applicant may not change the address or county of
	73	+	residence submitted on the original application to a different
	74	+	address or county of residence by e-mail.
71	75		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.