87S10345 SMT-D
By: West S.B. No. 35
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to automatic voter registration of students enrolled in
public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 13.010 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.010. VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) The voter registrar of each county shall
automatically register any county resident who is eligible to vote
as provided by Section 13.001 and is enrolled in an institution of
higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
(b) A student's application for enrollment in an
institution of higher education with an indication provided by
Section 20.133(b) that the enrollment is not for voter registration
purposes is not subject to this section.
(c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules and prescribe
procedures for the implementation of this section.
SECTION 2. Section 20.001, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) Each institution of higher education, as defined by
Section 61.003, Education Code, is designated as a voter
registration agency.
SECTION 3. Chapter 20, Election Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter F to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Sec. 20.131. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "institution
of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003,
Education Code.
Sec. 20.132. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other
provisions of this chapter apply to an institution of higher
education except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or
Section 13.010.
Sec. 20.133. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a) An institution
of higher education shall consider each person of voting age who
enrolls at the institution an applicant for voter registration,
except as otherwise indicated by the person.
(b) An institution of higher education shall prescribe and
use a form and procedure that combines the institution's
application for enrollment with an officially prescribed voter
registration application form. The form and procedure must include
the option for an applicant to provide an appropriate address at the
time of enrollment in the institution. The form must allow an
applicant to indicate that the applicant does not wish the
applicant's enrollment to be used for voter registration purposes.
(c) The design, content, and physical characteristics of
the institution's forms must be approved by the secretary of state.
Sec. 20.134. RULES. The secretary of state shall prescribe
additional procedures as necessary to implement this subchapter.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
last day of the legislative session.