TITLE: Relating to maintenance of the statewide voter registration list.

SUMMARY: Relating to maintenance of the statewide voter registration list.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to maintenance of the statewide voter registration list. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 18.061(c), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) Under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state, each voter registrar shall provide to the secretary of state on an expedited basis the information necessary to maintain the registration list established under Subsection (a). The procedures shall provide for the electronic submission of the information and ensure that each voter registrar collects and reports the correct month, day, and year of birth for each registered voter.SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 18, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 18.0681 to read as follows: Sec. 18.0681. SECRETARY OF STATE AUTHORITY TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATE REGISTRATION RECORDS. (a) The secretary of state shall periodically compare the information regarding voters maintained as part of the statewide computerized voter registration list to determine whether any voters have more than one voter registration record on file. (b) The secretary of state shall by rule determine what information combinations identified as common to more than one registration record constitute a weak match or a strong match in order to: (1) produce the least possible impact on Texas voters; and (2) fulfill its responsibility to manage the voter rolls. (c) The secretary of state may not determine that a voter has more than one registration record based on a weak match. The secretary of state may inform the county of the voter's residence that a weak match exists. (d) If the secretary of state determines that a voter on the registration list has more than one registration record on file based on a strong match, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of each county in which the voter is registered to vote. If the voter records identified are: (1) located in the same county, the voter registrar may merge the records following a determination that each record belongs to the same voter using the procedure for the correction of registration records under Section 15.022; or (2) located in more than one county, the registrar of the county with the oldest record may deliver a written confirmation notice in accordance with Section 15.051. SECTION 3. Section 62.0132(g), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (g) The information contained in a completed questionnaire may be disclosed to: (1) a judge assigned to hear a cause of action in which the respondent to the questionnaire is a potential juror; (2) court personnel; [and] (3) a litigant and a litigant's attorney in a cause of action in which the respondent to the questionnaire is a potential juror;and (4) other than information provided that is related to Section 62.102(8) or (9), the voter registrar of a county in connection with any matter of voter registration or the administration of elections.SECTION 4. 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.