88R12224 MLH-D
By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 1946
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to personal information entered on the carrier envelope of
a ballot to be voted by mail.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 86.002, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d-1) and amending Subsection (g) to read as
follows:
(d-1) The secretary of state shall prescribe instructions
to be printed on the balloting materials for marking the ballot
envelope with the information required under Subsection (g). The
instructions must:
(1) be printed in at least a 10-point font;
(2) except as provided by Subdivision (3), not include
the text "V.U.I.D." or the words "voter registration number"; and
(3) contain the statement: "A voter registration
certificate is not the same thing as an election identification
certificate. An election identification certificate is a photo
identification issued by the Department of Public Safety and
contains a unique number that is different from the voter
registration number contained in the voter registration
certificate. A voter registration number (V.U.I.D.) does not
satisfy the requirement to enter the number of an election
identification certificate and should not be printed on the carrier
envelope."
(g) The carrier envelope must include a space, at least one
half inch in height and two inches in width, that is hidden from
view when the envelope is sealed for the voter to enter the
following information:
(1) the number of the voter's driver's license,
election identification certificate, or personal identification
card issued by the Department of Public Safety;
(2) if the voter has not been issued a number described
by Subdivision (1), the last four digits of the voter's social
security number; or
(3) a statement by the applicant that the applicant
has not been issued a number described by Subdivision (1) or (2).
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.