88R13402 PRL-F
By: Morales of Maverick H.B. No. 4781
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to promoting voter registration and voting participation
in rural counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 18, Election Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. RURAL VOTER REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION
Sec. 18.081. APPLICATION. This subchapter applies only to
a voter registrar in a county with a population of 250,000 or less
according to the most recent decennial census.
Sec. 18.082. RURAL VOTER REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 19.004, each voter registrar may use
state funds disbursed under this subchapter or Chapter 19 to
promote voter registration or voting participation in a county.
(b) A voter registrar may promote:
(1) voter registration, by identifying persons
eligible for registration and encouraging the identified persons to
register to vote; and
(2) voting participation, by encouraging registered
voters to vote and providing to registered voters:
(A) election information, including voting dates
and polling place locations; and
(B) transportation to and from polling place
locations during the voting period.
(c) A voter registrar that promotes voter registration or
voting participation under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) may not:
(1) promote any particular party, candidate, or group
of candidates; or
(2) target the voter registrar's efforts toward
individuals on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex.
(d) A voter registrar may contract with a nonprofit
organization to carry out the promotion of voter registration or
voting participation permitted under this section.
Sec. 18.083. FUNDING. A voter registrar may use any
available revenue, including legislative appropriations, and may
solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from a public or
private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.