By: Beckley H.B. No. 519
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the registration of voters at a polling place during
early voting by personal appearance and related procedures.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 12.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.007. CERTAIN ELECTION OFFICERS ARE VOTER
REGISTRARS. An election officer serving a polling place for early
voting by personal appearance is a deputy voter registrar and has
the same authority as a regular deputy registrar.
SECTION 2. Section 65.054, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) A provisional ballot cast under Section 85.0312 shall
be accepted if the voter registrar determines the applicant is
eligible for registration under Section 85.0312(d).
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 85, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 85.0312 to read as follows:
Sec. 85.0312. REGISTRATION AT POLLING PLACE DURING EARLY
VOTING. (a) A person who would be eligible to vote in an election
under Section 11.001, but for the requirement to be a registered
voter, shall be accepted during early voting by personal appearance
for voting the ballot for the precinct of the person's residence as
shown by the identification presented if, on the day the person
offers to vote, the person:
(1) submits a voter registration application that
complies with Section 13.002 to an election officer at the polling
place; and
(2) presents as proof of residence:
(A) a Texas driver's license, including a
temporary license or instruction permit, or personal
identification card issued to the person by the Department of
Public Safety that states the person's current address on the day
the person seeks to vote; or
(B) a utility bill addressed to the person dated
not earlier than the 30th day before the date the person seeks to
vote, and:
(i) a driver's license or personal
identification card issued to the person by the Department of
Public Safety that has not expired or that expired no earlier than
60 days before the date of presentation;
(ii) a United States military
identification card that contains the person's photograph that has
not expired or that expired no earlier than 60 days before the date
of presentation;
(iii) a United States citizenship
certificate issued to the person that contains the person's
photograph;
(iv) a United States passport issued to the
person that has not expired or that expired no earlier than 60 days
before the date of presentation;
(v) a license to carry a handgun issued to
the person by the Department of Public Safety that has not expired
or that expired no earlier than 60 days before the date of
presentation; or
(vi) a student identification card issued
by a public or private institution of higher education located in
this state that contains the person's photograph.
(b) The election officer shall make a copy of the proof of
residence submitted under Subsection (a)(2) and attach it to the
registration application. The election officer shall return the
original proof of residence to the voter.
(c) A person voting under this section shall vote a
provisional ballot in the manner provided by Section 63.011 except
that the person is not required to submit the affidavit under
Section 63.011(a).
(d) For each registration corresponding to a ballot cast
under this section, the voter registrar shall review the
application and copy of the proof of residence and determine
whether the applicant is eligible for registration as provided by
Subchapter C, Chapter 13. The registrar shall inform the early
voting ballot board of a determination made under this subsection.
A registration approved under this subsection takes effect on the
date the vote was cast.
(e) The secretary of state may by rule:
(1) designate additional documents that a person may
offer to prove the person's residence to register and vote under
this section; and
(2) prescribe procedures to implement this section.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.