88(4) HB 31 - Introduced version - Bill Text

	By:  Bucy	H.B.  No.  31

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to electronic voter registration.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION  1.    Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:
	Sec.  13.009.    ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The
	secretary of state shall work with the Department of Public Safety
	and the Department of Information Resources to implement a program
	to allow a person to complete a voter registration application over
	the Internet from the official website of this state. The Internet
	websites of the secretary of state and the Department of Public
	Safety must also provide a link to the location of the application
	on the official website of this state.
	(b)    An applicant for electronic voter registration who has
	an unexpired driver's license or personal identification card
	issued in this state must:
	(1)    attest to the truth of the information provided on
	the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;
	and
	(2)    affirmatively consent to the use of the signature
	on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card
	for voter registration purposes.
	(c)    An applicant for electronic voter registration who does
	not have an unexpired driver's license or personal identification
	card issued in this state must:
	(1)    attest to the truth of the information provided on
	the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;
	and
	(2)    digitally sign the applicant's application before
	submitting it electronically.
	(d)    For each application submitted under Subsection (b),
	the program shall require that a digital copy of the applicant's
	signature be obtained from the Department of Public Safety.
	(e)    A digital signature given as provided by secretary of
	state rule meets the signature requirement under Section 13.002(b).
	An application submitted under this section is considered for all
	purposes an application submitted by mail under this title.
	(f)    The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
	implement this section, including rules to provide for additional
	security measures necessary to ensure the accuracy and integrity of
	applications submitted electronically.
	(g)    The rules adopted under Subsection (f) must require
	that:
	(1)    the Internet website through which a person may
	complete a voter registration application include a description of
	the offense described by Section 13.007 in a conspicuous location
	on the website near the place where the person begins or submits the
	application; and
	(2)    the state electronic Internet portal project be
	used to authenticate the identity and address of a person who
	submits an application electronically under this section.
	SECTION  2.    This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
	legislative session.