By: Bonnen, Goldman, et al. H.B. No. 574
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the elements of the criminal offense of election fraud;
increasing criminal penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 276.013(a) and (b), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or
intentionally makes any effort to:
(1) influence the independent exercise of the vote of
another in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process;
(2) cause a voter to become registered, a ballot to be
obtained, or a vote to be cast under false pretenses; [or]
(3) count invalid votes that the person knows to be
invalid or alter a report to include invalid votes that the person
knows to be invalid;
(4) fail to count valid votes that the person knows to
be valid or alter a report to exclude valid votes that the person
knows to be valid; or
(5) [(3)] cause any intentionally misleading
statement, representation, or information to be provided:
(A) to an election official; or
(B) on an application for ballot by mail, carrier
envelope, or any other official election-related form or document.
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second
degree [Class A misdemeanor].
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.