88R10032 TSS-D
By: Jetton H.B. No. 2810
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the form, content, and delivery of a voter registration
certificate.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 13.144(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) If delivery is by mail, the registrar shall:
(1) send the certificate by first class mail in a
carrier envelope addressed to the mailing address on the
applicant's registration application; and
(2) include with the certificate a return envelope,
properly addressed with postage paid.
SECTION 2. Sections 14.002(a) and (b), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the registrar
shall:
(1) deliver a voter's renewal certificate by first
class mail in a carrier envelope addressed to the mailing address on
the voter's registration application; and
(2) include with the certificate a return envelope,
properly addressed with postage paid.
(b) The [certificate, if mailed without an envelope, or the]
envelope containing the certificate must contain an instruction to
the postal authorities not to forward it to any other address and to
return it to the registrar if the addressee is no longer at the
address to which the certificate was mailed.
SECTION 3. The heading to Section 15.001, Election Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 15.001. REQUIRED FORM AND CONTENTS.
SECTION 4. Section 15.001, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) Each voter registration certificate issued must
contain:
(1) the voter's name in the form indicated by the
voter, subject to applicable requirements prescribed by Section
13.002 and by rule of the secretary of state;
(2) the voter's residence address or, if the residence
has no address, the address at which the voter receives mail and a
concise description of the location of the voter's residence;
(3) the year of the voter's birth;
(4) the number of the county election precinct in
which the voter resides;
(5) the voter's effective date of registration if an
initial certificate;
(6) the voter's registration number;
(7) an indication of the period for which the
certificate is issued;
(8) a statement explaining the circumstances under
which the voter will receive a new certificate;
(9) a space for stamping the voter's political party
affiliation;
(10) a statement that voting with the certificate by a
person other than the person in whose name the certificate is issued
is a felony;
(11) a space for the voter's signature;
(12) a statement that the voter must sign the
certificate personally, if able to sign, immediately on receipt;
(13) a space for the voter to correct the information
on the certificate and a printed box for a person to check to
indicate that the voter is deceased followed by a signature line;
(14) in all capital letters, the statement: "IF ANY
INFORMATION ON THIS CERTIFICATE CHANGES OR IS INCORRECT, INCLUDING
THE ADDRESS OF THE VOTER, CORRECT THE INFORMATION IN THE SPACE
PROVIDED, SIGN BELOW, AND RETURN THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE VOTER
REGISTRAR. IF THE VOTER HAS DIED, CHECK THE BOX INDICATING THE VOTER
IS DECEASED, SIGN BELOW, AND RETURN THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE
REGISTRAR [If any information on this certificate changes or is
incorrect, correct the information in the space provided, sign
below, and return this certificate to the voter registrar].";
(15) the registrar's mailing address and telephone
number; and
(16) the jurisdictional or distinguishing number for
the following territorial units in which the voter resides, as
determined by the voter registrar:
(A) congressional district;
(B) state senatorial district;
(C) state representative district;
(D) commissioners precinct;
(E) justice precinct;
(F) city election precinct; and
(G) school district election precinct.
(a-1) Each voter registration certificate issued shall
measure at least 5 by 8-1/2 inches in size.
SECTION 5. Section 16.031(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The registrar shall cancel a voter's registration
immediately if the registrar:
(1) determines [from information received under
Section 16.001(c)] that the voter is deceased from information
received:
(A) under Section 16.001(c); or
(B) on a voter registration certificate returned
to the registrar with the printed box checked indicating the voter
has died;
(2) has personal knowledge that the voter is deceased;
(3) receives from a person related within the second
degree by consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter
573, Government Code, to the voter a sworn statement by that person
indicating that the voter is deceased; or
(4) receives notice from the secretary of state under
Section 18.068 that the voter is deceased.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.