TITLE: Relating to verification of the accuracy of voter registration applications and voter registration lists.

SUMMARY: Relating to verification of the accuracy of voter registration applications and voter registration lists.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to verification of the accuracy of voter registration applications and voter registration lists. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 18.068, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 18.068. COMPARISON OF INFORMATION REGARDING INELIGIBILITY. (a) The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Section 62.113, Government Code, to the statewide computerized voter registration list. (a-1) The secretary of state shall enter into an agreement with the Department of Public Safety under which information in the statewide computerized voter registration list is compared against information in the database of the Department of Public Safety on a monthly basis to verify the accuracy of information provided on voter registration applications. The information compared must include, at a minimum, a voter's: (1) full legal name; (2) former name, if applicable; (3) date of birth; (4) residence address; (5) driver's license or state identification card number; (6) signature; (7) social security number; (8) documentation of lawful presence in this state; and (9) citizenship status. (a-2) If the secretary determines from information received under Subsection (a) or (a-1) that a voter on the registration list may be ineligible to vote [is deceased or has been excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a citizen],the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered appropriate by the secretary. (b) The secretary of state shall by rule determine what information combinations identified as common to a voter and to an individual who is deceased or ineligible to vote 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 is deceased or ineligible to vote based on a weak match. The secretary of state may inform the county of the voter's residence that a weak match exists. (d) On receiving notification from the secretary of state under Subsection (c) that a weak match of identifying information exists for a county voter and an individual who is deceased or ineligible to vote,the county shall investigate whether the voter is that [the] individual [who is deceased].(e) The secretary of state may determine that a voter is deceased or ineligible to vote based on a strong match. (f) The secretary of state may obtain, for purposes of determining whether a voter is deceased or ineligible to vote,information from other state agency databases relating to a voter that is the same type of information that the secretary of state or a voter registrar collects or stores for voter registration purposes. (g) Not later than December 31 of each year, the secretary of state shall provide a report to the legislature of the number of voters determined to be ineligible under this section during the calendar year. The report must include the reason for ineligibility for each voter. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an application to register to vote submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.