Bill Text: TX HB2430 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the ability of a volunteer deputy registrar to distribute and receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-13 - Referred to Elections [HB2430 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB2430-Introduced.html
By: Zwiener | H.B. No. 2430 |
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Relating to the ability of a volunteer deputy registrar to | ||
distribute and receive applications for a ballot to be voted by | ||
mail. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 13.038, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 13.038. POWERS GENERALLY. (a) A volunteer deputy | ||
registrar may distribute voter registration application forms | ||
throughout the county and receive registration applications | ||
submitted to the deputy in person. | ||
(b) A volunteer deputy registrar may distribute application | ||
forms for a ballot to be voted by mail throughout the county and | ||
receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail submitted to | ||
the deputy in person as provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 84. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 84.007(b), Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(b) An application must be submitted to the early voting | ||
clerk by: | ||
(1) mail; | ||
(2) common or contract carrier; | ||
(2-a) a volunteer deputy registrar, subsequent to a | ||
delivery made to the volunteer deputy registrar under Subchapter C; | ||
(3) subject to Subsection (b-1), telephonic facsimile | ||
machine, if a machine is available in the clerk's officer; or | ||
(4) subject to Subsection (b-1), electronic | ||
transmission of a scanned application containing an original | ||
signature. | ||
SECTION 3. Chapter 84, Election Code, is amended by adding | ||
Subchapter C to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER C. VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS | ||
Sec. 84.051. APPLICATION FORMS FURNISHED BY VOLUNTEER | ||
DEPUTY REGISTRAR. (a) A volunteer deputy registrar may maintain a | ||
supply of official application forms for a ballot to be voted by | ||
mail and shall furnish the forms to voters throughout the county in | ||
a manner consistent with law. | ||
(b) A voter may submit an application for a ballot to be | ||
voted by mail by delivering the application to a volunteer deputy | ||
registrar. | ||
(c) To the extent practicable, the procedure under this | ||
section for distributing applications for a ballot to be vote by | ||
mail and delivering applications shall be the same as the procedure | ||
for delivering a registration application under Subchapter B, | ||
Chapter 13. | ||
Sec. 84.052. DELIVERY OF APPLICATION TO EARLY VOTING CLERK. | ||
(a) A volunteer deputy registrar shall deliver in person, or by | ||
personal delivery through another designated volunteer deputy, to | ||
the early voting clerk each completed application for a ballot to be | ||
voted by mail submitted to the deputy, as provided by this section. | ||
The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures necessary to | ||
ensure the proper and timely delivery of completed applications | ||
that are not delivered in person by the volunteer deputy who | ||
receives them. | ||
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an application | ||
shall be delivered to the early voting clerk not later than 5 p.m. | ||
of the fifth day after the date the application is submitted to the | ||
volunteer deputy registrar. | ||
(c) An application submitted after the 15th day before the | ||
date of an election and on or before the last day for a person to | ||
timely submit an application for a ballot to be voted by mail for | ||
that election as provided by Section 84.007 shall be delivered to | ||
the early voting clerk not later than 5 p.m. of the next regular | ||
business day after the date to timely submit an application for a | ||
ballot to be voted by mail for that election as provided by Section | ||
13.143. | ||
Sec. 84.053. FAILURE TO DELIVER APPLICATION. (a) A | ||
volunteer deputy registrar commits an offense if the deputy fails | ||
to comply with Section 84.052. | ||
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under | ||
this section is a Class C misdemeanor. | ||
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor | ||
if the deputy's failure to comply is intentional. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |