87S20262 SMT-D
By: Alvarado, et al. S.B. No. 45
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to electronic voter registration and electronic
submission of an application for an early voting ballot by mail.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.009. ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The
secretary of state shall implement a program to allow a person to
complete a voter registration application over the Internet from
the official website of this state. The websites of the secretary
of state and the Department of Public Safety must also provide a
link to the location of the application on the official website of
this state.
(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration who has a
driver's license or personal identification card issued in this
state, regardless of whether the license or card is unexpired,
must:
(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on
the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;
and
(2) affirmatively consent to the use of the signature
on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card
for voter registration purposes.
(c) An applicant for electronic voter registration who does
not have a driver's license or personal identification card issued
in this state must:
(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on
the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;
and
(2) print a registration application from the website
the applicant is using to register, sign the application, and mail
it to the registrar.
(d) For each application submitted under Subsection (b),
the program must require that a digital copy of the applicant's
signature be obtained from the Department of Public Safety.
(e) For each application submitted under Subsection (c),
the program must provide the applicant with:
(1) a registration application that the applicant can
print from the registration website, sign, and mail to the
registrar as required under Subsection (c)(2); and
(2) information about how the applicant can obtain a
driver's license or personal identification card from the
Department of Public Safety.
(f) An application submitted under this section is
considered for all purposes an application submitted by mail under
this title.
(g) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section, including rules to provide for additional
security measures necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of
applications submitted electronically.
(h) The rules adopted under Subsection (g) must require
that:
(1) the Internet website through which a person may
complete a voter registration application include a description of
the offense described by Section 13.007 in a conspicuous location
on the website near the place where the person begins or submits the
application; and
(2) the state electronic Internet portal project be
used to authenticate the identity of a person who submits an
application electronically under this section.
SECTION 2. Sections 84.001(b) and (d), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(b) An application must be in writing and signed by the
applicant. Except as provided by Section 84.0091, an [An]
electronic signature is not permitted.
(d) An application must be submitted [by mail] to the early
voting clerk for the election who serves the election precinct of
the applicant's residence.
SECTION 3. Section 84.007(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Sections 84.008, [and] 84.009, and
84.0091, an application for a ballot to be voted by mail must be
submitted as provided by this section.
SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 84.0091 to read as follows:
Sec. 84.0091. SUBMITTING APPLICATION FOR BALLOT VOTED BY
MAIL: ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION. The secretary of state shall
implement a program to allow a person to complete an application for
an early voting ballot by mail over the Internet from the official
website of this state. The program must:
(1) permit an applicant to electronically sign the
application;
(2) deliver a completed application to the early
voting clerk for the election who serves the election precinct of
the applicant's residence; and
(3) permit an applicant to check the status of the
applicant's application.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
last day of the legislative session.