Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1299 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/12/2023

                    88R7679 MLH-D
 By: Noble H.B. No. 1299


 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.