By: Noble, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Paxton) H.B. No. 1299
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 15, 2023;
May 16, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on State
Affairs; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 7, Nays 2; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
HughesX
PaxtonX
BettencourtX
BirdwellX
LaMantiaX
MenéndezX
MiddletonX
ParkerX
PerryX
SchwertnerX
ZaffiriniX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the signature required on a carrier envelope for a
ballot voted by mail; changing the elements of a criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 86.005(c), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) After marking the ballot, the voter must place it in the
official ballot envelope and then seal the ballot envelope, place
the ballot envelope in the official carrier envelope and then seal
the carrier envelope, and sign the certificate on the carrier
envelope using ink on paper. An electronic signature or
photocopied signature is not permitted.
SECTION 2. Section 86.0051(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A person other than the voter who assists a voter by
depositing the carrier envelope in the mail or with a common or
contract carrier or who obtains the carrier envelope for that
purpose must provide the person's signature, printed name, and
residence address on the reverse side of the envelope. The person
must sign the envelope using ink on paper. An electronic signature
or photocopied signature is not permitted.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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