Bill Text: TX HB488 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the registration of voters at a polling place and related procedures.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-23 - Referred to Elections [HB488 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB488-Introduced.html
| 88R2964 LRM-F | ||
| By: Meza | H.B. No. 488 | |
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| relating to the registration of voters at a polling place 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. The registrar shall appoint at least one election | ||
| officer serving each polling place for early voting by personal | ||
| appearance or on election day as a regular deputy registrar. | ||
| SECTION 2. Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding | ||
| Section 63.010 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 63.010. REGISTRATION AT POLLING PLACE; VOTING | ||
| PROCEDURES. (a) Other applicable provisions of this code apply to | ||
| the conduct of voting and to the registration of voters under this | ||
| section to the extent those provisions do not conflict with this | ||
| section. | ||
| (b) 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 for voting in the precinct of the person's | ||
| residence if, on the day the person offers to vote, the person: | ||
| (1) submits a voter registration application that | ||
| complies with Section 13.002 to a voter registrar at the polling | ||
| place; and | ||
| (2) presents as proof of identification: | ||
| (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 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, regardless of whether the address stated on the | ||
| license or card is current on the day the person seeks to vote; | ||
| (ii) a United States passport issued to the | ||
| person; or | ||
| (iii) a United States military | ||
| identification card that contains the person's photograph. | ||
| (c) Persons voting under this section shall be processed | ||
| separately at the polling place from persons who are voting under | ||
| regular procedures. | ||
| (d) The secretary of state shall adopt rules to ensure the | ||
| accountability of election officers and to fairly implement this | ||
| section. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 85.031(a), Election Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (a) For each person entitled to vote an early voting ballot | ||
| by personal appearance or entitled to register at a polling place, | ||
| the early voting clerk shall follow the procedure for accepting or | ||
| registering a regular voter on election day, with the modifications | ||
| necessary for the conduct of early voting. | ||
| SECTION 4. The secretary of state shall adopt rules as | ||
| required by Section 63.010, Election Code, as added by this Act, not | ||
| later than February 1, 2024. | ||
| SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to | ||
| an election for which early voting by personal appearance begins on | ||
| or after February 1, 2024. | ||
| SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
