Bill Text: TX HB944 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to registering to vote and voting while in custody at certain county jails and related procedures.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-02 - Referred to Elections [HB944 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB944-Introduced.html

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88R2972 MPF-D
By: Dutton H.B. No. 944

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to registering to vote and voting while in custody at
certain county jails and related procedures.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 43, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 43.008 to read as follows:
Sec. 43.008. COUNTY JAIL AS POLLING PLACE. (a) The county
jail in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more shall
serve as a polling place for any election in that county.
(b) Only a resident of the county who is in custody at the
county jail and who has not been finally convicted of the offense
for which the resident is in custody is eligible to vote at a
polling place established under this section.
(c) A polling place established under this section must
allow a voter to vote in the same elections in which the voter would
be entitled to vote where the voter resides.
(d) A county jail serving as a polling place under this
section must provide a voter registration application to any person
in custody who requests an application and is eligible to vote at
the jail as provided by this section.
SECTION 2. Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding
Section 63.0091 to read as follows:
Sec. 63.0091. REGISTRATION AT COUNTY JAIL POLLING PLACE;
VOTING PROCEDURES. (a) This section applies to the conduct of
voting and to the registration of voters notwithstanding and in
addition to other applicable provisions of this code.
(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 at a county jail described by
Section 43.008 if, on the day the person offers to vote, the person:
(1) is in custody at the jail and has not been finally
convicted of the offense for which the person is in custody;
(2) submits a voter registration application that
complies with Section 13.002; and
(3) either:
(A) presents proof of identification in a form
described by Section 63.0101 that also establishes the person's
residence in the county where the county jail is located; or
(B) establishes the person's identification and
residence through records maintained by the county jail.
(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 prescribe the procedures
necessary to implement this section and to ensure the proper and
orderly conduct of elections.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.