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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to information regarding provisional voting. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 63.001(g), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(g) If the requirements for identification prescribed by |
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Subsection (b) are not met, the voter may be accepted for |
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provisional voting only under Section 63.011. For a voter who is |
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not accepted for voting under this section, an election officer |
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shall: |
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(1) inform the voter of the voter's right to cast a |
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provisional ballot under Section 63.011 and provide the voter with |
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the declination of provisional ballot form described by Section |
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63.010(b); and |
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(2) provide the voter with written information, in a |
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form prescribed by the secretary of state, that: |
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(A) lists the requirements for identification; |
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(B) states the procedure for presenting |
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identification under Section 65.0541; |
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(C) includes a map showing the location where |
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identification must be presented; and |
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(D) includes notice that if all procedures are |
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followed and the voter is found to be eligible to vote and is voting |
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in the correct precinct, the voter's provisional ballot will be |
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accepted. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 63.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 63.010. DECLINATION OF PROVISIONAL BALLOT FORM. |
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(a) An election officer shall ensure that a declination of a |
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provisional ballot is executed for each person who is informed of |
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the person's right to cast a provisional ballot under Section |
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63.001(g). |
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(b) The officially prescribed form for a declination of a |
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provisional ballot must include: |
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(1) spaces to indicate the reason the voter may only |
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vote provisionally and the date; |
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(2) the following question, followed by appropriate |
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boxes preceding "YES" and "NO": "If you have not been accepted for |
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voting a regular ballot, would you like to vote a provisional ballot |
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today?"; |
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(3) the statement: "IF YOU HAVE NOT CHECKED EITHER |
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BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO VOTE A |
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PROVISIONAL BALLOT."; and |
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(4) a space for indicating that the voter refused to |
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complete the declination. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |