TITLE: Relating to information provided on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.

SUMMARY: Relating to information provided on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to information provided on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 84.002(a), Election Code, 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; (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; [and] (6) an indication of the ground of eligibility for early voting;(7) the month, day, and year of the applicant's birth; and (8) the following information: (A) the applicant's Texas driver's license number or the number of a personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety; (B) if the applicant has not been issued a number described by Paragraph (A), the last four digits of the applicant's social security number; or (C) a statement by the applicant that the applicant has not been issued a number described by Paragraph (A) or (B).SECTION 2. Section 84.011(a), Election Code, 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 indicate the date on or after which the applicant can receive mail at the address outside the county; (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 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), if applicable; (F) a space for an applicant applying on the ground of age or disability to indicate if the application is an application under Section 86.0015; (G) spaces for entering the signature, printed name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant; (H) a statement informing the applicant of the condition prescribed by Section 81.005; and (I) a statement informing the applicant of the requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c);(5) a space for providing the month, day, and year of the applicant's birth; and (6) a space or box for an applicant to provide the following information: (A) the applicant's Texas driver's license number or the number of a personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety; (B) the last four digits of the applicant's social security number; or (C) a statement by the applicant that the applicant has not been issued a number described by Paragraph (A) or (B).SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.