Bill Text: TX SB167 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the registration of voters at a polling place during early voting by personal appearance and related procedures.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-25 - Referred to State Affairs [SB167 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB167-Introduced.html
  85R1966 ADM-D
 
  By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 167
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the registration of voters at a polling place during
  early voting by personal appearance and related procedures.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 12.007 to read as follows:
         Sec. 12.007.  CERTAIN ELECTION OFFICERS ARE VOTER
  REGISTRARS.  An election officer serving a polling place for early
  voting by personal appearance is a deputy voter registrar and has
  the same authority as a regular deputy registrar.
         SECTION 2.  Section 65.054, Election Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
         (b-1)  A provisional ballot cast under Section 85.0312 shall
  be accepted if the voter registrar determines the applicant is
  eligible for registration under Section 85.0312(d).
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 85, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 85.0312 to read as follows:
         Sec. 85.0312.  REGISTRATION AT POLLING PLACE DURING EARLY
  VOTING.  (a)  A person who would be eligible to vote in an election
  under Section 11.001, but for the requirement to be a registered
  voter, shall be accepted during early voting by personal appearance
  for voting the ballot for the precinct of the person's residence as
  shown by the identification presented if, on the day the person
  offers to vote, the person:
               (1)  submits a voter registration application that
  complies with Section 13.002 to an election officer at the polling
  place; and
               (2)  presents as proof of residence:
                     (A)  a Texas driver's license, including a
  temporary license or instruction permit, or personal
  identification card issued to the person by the Department of
  Public Safety that states the person's current address on the day
  the person seeks to vote; or
                     (B)  a utility bill addressed to the person dated
  not earlier than the 30th day before the date the person seeks to
  vote, and:
                           (i)  a driver's license or personal
  identification card issued to the person by the Department of
  Public Safety that has not expired or that expired no earlier than
  60 days before the date of presentation;
                           (ii)  a United States military
  identification card that contains the person's photograph that has
  not expired or that expired no earlier than 60 days before the date
  of presentation;
                           (iii)  a United States citizenship
  certificate issued to the person that contains the person's
  photograph;
                           (iv)  a United States passport issued to the
  person that has not expired or that expired no earlier than 60 days
  before the date of presentation;
                           (v)  a license to carry a handgun issued to
  the person by the Department of Public Safety that has not expired
  or that expired no earlier than 60 days before the date of
  presentation; or
                           (vi)  a student identification card issued
  by a public or private institution of higher education located in
  this state that contains the person's photograph.
         (b)  The election officer shall make a copy of the proof of
  residence submitted under Subsection (a)(2) and attach it to the
  registration application.  The election officer shall return the
  original proof of residence to the voter.
         (c)  A person voting under this section shall vote a
  provisional ballot in the manner provided by Section 63.011 except
  that the person is not required to submit the affidavit under
  Section 63.011(a).
         (d)  For each registration corresponding to a ballot cast
  under this section, the voter registrar shall review the
  application and copy of the proof of residence and determine
  whether the applicant is eligible for registration as provided by
  Subchapter C, Chapter 13.  The registrar shall inform the early
  voting ballot board of a determination made under this subsection.  
  A registration approved under this subsection takes effect on the
  date the vote was cast.
         (e)  The secretary of state may by rule:
               (1)  designate additional documents that a person may
  offer to prove the person's residence to register and vote under
  this section; and
               (2)  prescribe procedures to implement this section.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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