87(2) HB 220 - Introduced version - Bill Text

	By:  Bucy	H.B.  No.  220

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the electronic transmission of a ballot to a voter
	voting early by mail on the ground of absence from the county of
	residence.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION  1.    Section 84.002(a), Election Code, as effective
	September 1, 2021, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)    An early voting ballot application must include:
	(1)    the applicant's name and the address at which the
	applicant is registered to vote;
	(2)    for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
	on the ground of absence from the county of residence, the address
	outside the applicant's county of residence to which the ballot is
	to be mailed or an e-mail address for the applicant to which the
	ballot is sent by electronic transmission;
	(3)    for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
	on the ground of age or disability, the address of the hospital,
	nursing home or other long-term care facility, or retirement
	center, or of a person related to the applicant within the second
	degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as
	determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, if the applicant is
	living at that address and that address is different from the
	address at which the applicant is registered to vote;
	(4)    for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
	on the ground of confinement in jail, the address of the jail or of a
	person related to the applicant within the degree described by
	Subdivision (3);
	(5)    for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
	on any ground, an indication of each election for which the
	applicant is applying for a ballot;
	(6)    an indication of the ground of eligibility for
	early voting; and
	(7)    for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail
	on the ground of involuntary civil commitment, the address of the
	facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Civil
	Commitment Office or of a person related to the applicant within the
	degree of consanguinity described by Subdivision (3).
	SECTION  2.    Section 84.011(a), Election Code, as effective
	September 1, 2021, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)    The officially prescribed application form for an early
	voting ballot must include:
	(1)    immediately preceding the signature space the
	statement: "I certify that the information given in this
	application is true, and I understand that giving false information
	in this application is a crime.";
	(2)    a statement informing the applicant of the
	offenses prescribed by Sections 84.003 and 84.004;
	(3)    spaces for entering an applicant's voter
	registration number and county election precinct of registration,
	with a statement informing the applicant that failure to furnish
	that information does not invalidate the application; and
	(4)    on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail:
	(A)    a space for an applicant applying on the
	ground of absence from the county of residence to:
	(i)    indicate the date on or after which the
	applicant can receive mail at the address outside the county; or
	(ii)    indicate that the applicant wishes to
	receive the balloting materials by electronic transmission and
	provide an e-mail address;
	(B)    a space for indicating the fact that an
	applicant whose application is signed by a witness cannot make the
	applicant's mark and a space for indicating the relationship or
	lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant;
	(C)    a space for entering an applicant's telephone
	number, with a statement informing the applicant that failure to
	furnish that information does not invalidate the application;
	(D)    a space or box for an applicant applying on
	the ground of age or disability to indicate that the address to
	which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or
	relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), if applicable;
	(E)    a space or box for an applicant applying on
	the ground of confinement in jail or involuntary civil commitment
	to indicate that the address to which the ballot is to be mailed is
	the address of a relative described by Section 84.002(a)(4) or (7),
	if applicable;