88R1448 ADM-D
By: Guerra H.B. No. 1070
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the methods of voter registration.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
amended by adding Sections 13.009 and 13.010 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.009. AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) The voter
registrar of each county shall automatically register any county
resident who is 18 years of age, eligible to vote as provided by
Section 13.001, and issued a Texas driver's license or a personal
identification card by the Department of Public Safety unless the
resident chooses not to be registered.
(b) A driver's license or personal identification card
transaction with an indication provided by Section 20.063(c) that
the transaction is not for voter registration purposes is not
subject to this section.
Sec. 13.010. 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 Internet website of this state. The Internet 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 Internet website of this state.
(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration who has
an unexpired 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) 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 an unexpired 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 Internet
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 shall 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 shall 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. Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 20.061. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other
provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public Safety
except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or Section
13.009.
SECTION 3. Section 20.063, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read
as follows:
(a) The Department of Public Safety shall provide to each
person who applies in person, by mail, or online at the department's
Internet website [at the department's offices] for an original or
renewal of a driver's license, a personal identification card, or a
duplicate or corrected license or card an opportunity to complete a
voter registration application form.
(c) A change of address that relates to a license or card and
that is submitted to the department in person, [or] by mail, or
online at the department's Internet website serves as a change of
address for voter registration unless the licensee or cardholder
indicates that the change is not for voter registration purposes.
The date of submission of a change of address to a department
employee is considered to be the date of submission to the voter
registrar for the purpose of determining the effective date of
registration [only].
(e) The Department of Public Safety shall consider an
application made in person, by mail, or online at the department's
Internet website for an original or renewal of a driver's license, a
personal identification card, or a duplicate or corrected license
or card by a person who is 18 years of age and eligible to vote as
provided by Section 13.001 an application for voter registration.
The date of application is considered to be the date of submission
to the voter registrar for the purpose of determining the effective
date of registration. The registration of an eligible voter under
this subsection is automatic unless the person indicates that the
person is choosing not to be registered or that the transaction is
not for voter registration purposes.
SECTION 4. Section 20.065(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) Each weekday the department is regularly open for
business, the department shall electronically transfer to the
secretary of state the name and information designated by the
secretary of state for [of] each person who completes a voter
registration application submitted to the department and for each
individual who is eligible for registration under Section
20.063(e). The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to
implement this subsection.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.