The bill amends Section 63.0101(a) of the Election Code to update the acceptable forms of photo identification for voters in Texas. It specifies that acceptable forms of identification must be issued by the Department of Public Safety and must not be expired or have expired no earlier than one year before presentation. The bill introduces new language to clarify that a driver's license is acceptable unless it falls under certain sections of the Transportation Code, and it replaces the previous requirement for a personal identification card that expired no earlier than four years with a new standard of one year.
Additionally, the bill maintains other forms of identification such as military IDs, citizenship certificates, passports, and handgun licenses, all of which must also meet the expiration criteria. The changes will only apply to elections ordered on or after the effective date of the Act, which will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote from both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.
Statutes affected: Introduced: Election Code 63.0101 (Election Code 63)