Bill Text: TX HB1322 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the facilitation of voting by persons confined in certain jails.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-27 - Referred to Elections [HB1322 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB1322-Introduced.html
| 86R7781 ADM-D | ||
| By: Bucy | H.B. No. 1322 | |
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| relating to the facilitation of voting by persons confined in | ||
| certain jails. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Title 16, Election Code, is amended by adding | ||
| Chapter 279 to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 279. ENFRANCHISEMENT OF PERSONS CONFINED IN JAIL | ||
| Sec. 279.001. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies to a | ||
| person confined in a city or county jail. | ||
| Sec. 279.002. NOTICE OF VOTING RIGHTS. (a) The secretary | ||
| of state shall prescribe a written notice to be provided to each | ||
| person confined in a city or county jail that states: | ||
| (1) that persons eligible to vote may vote an absentee | ||
| ballot from jail; | ||
| (2) the upcoming election dates; and | ||
| (3) the voter registration deadlines and absentee | ||
| ballot request deadlines applicable to the upcoming elections. | ||
| (b) The notice must be printed in English, Spanish, | ||
| Vietnamese, and Mandarin. On the request of a person who does not | ||
| speak one of these languages, a translation of the notice into the | ||
| person's primary language must be provided. | ||
| (c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules relating to the | ||
| provision of the notice prescribed under this section to ensure | ||
| that the notice is visible and accessible to persons confined in the | ||
| jail. | ||
| Sec. 279.003. VOTING MATERIALS. (a) The officially | ||
| prescribed application form for registration by mail shall be made | ||
| available to persons confined in jail who are eligible to register | ||
| to vote. The officially prescribed application form for an early | ||
| voting ballot shall be made available to persons confined in jail | ||
| who are qualified voters. | ||
| (b) The authority in charge of the jail shall facilitate the | ||
| proper delivery of voter registration applications, applications | ||
| for ballots to be voted by mail, and marked ballots to eligible | ||
| persons and is responsible for the payment of any required postage. | ||
| (c) The secretary of state may adopt any rules necessary to | ||
| implement this section. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
