By: Smith H.B. No. 4780
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to ballots voted by mail.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 86, Election Code, is amended by adding
Section 86.016 to read as follows:
Sec. 86.016. SIGNATURE SHEET IN LIEU OF CARRIER ENVELOPE.
(a) The official carrier envelope for early voting ballot
may be modified to remove the requirements under Section 1.011,
86.002(g), 86.013(b)(2), 86.013(b)(3), 86.013(c), 86.013(e), or
86.013(f), if the voter is provided a signature sheet that contains
those required elements.
(b) In order for an early voting mail ballot to be counted,
a voter must either include a completed signature sheet in the
carrier envelope containing their completed mail ballot or complete
the carrier envelope certificate in the manner prescribed by
Section 86.013.
(c) If the voter provides a signature sheet in lieu of
completing the carrier envelope certificate prescribed by Section
86.013, the early voting ballot board or signature verification
committee, if applicable, may open the sealed carrier envelope to
retrieve the voter's signature sheet for review pursuant to
Sections 87.027 and 87.041.
(d) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and
content of the signature sheet and the modified carrier envelope
described in Subsection (a). Officially prescribed forms must
contain substantially the same content as the carrier envelope as
prescribed in Section 86.013.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.