Source: https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/laws/abbm-notice-and-faqs.shtml
Timestamp: 2020-07-12 00:01:08
Document Index: 509599160

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 84', '§ 84', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 84', '§ 86']

Annual Application for Ballot by Mail-Notice and FAQs
RE: Annual Application for Ballot by Mail – Notice and FAQs
The 83rd Legislature enacted legislation that provides an option for by mail voters that are voting by mail because they are 65 years of age or older or are disabled to make a single application for ballot by mail for a calendar year. [Tex. H.B. 666, 83rd Leg., R.S. (2013)] The Office of the Secretary of State is referring to this type of application as an “Annual ABBM,” and we will use this language in our calendars and other advisories. Beginning January 1, 2014, voters in the categories noted above will be able to apply for all calendar year elections in which the county clerk is the early voting clerk using a single annual application for a ballot by mail.
The Office of the Secretary of State has edited our application for ballot by mail to reflect these legislative changes, and this application is available on our website. Also, counties may submit requests for copies through our office by sending an email to or ordering copies online.
We have compiled the following list of FAQs and answers to assist in implementation of the new law and procedures. Please note this form is for voters seeking to submit a regular ballot by mail and an annual application for ballot by mail (Annual ABBM). Outside of the new deadline under S.B. 910, procedures for processing a regular ballot by mail did not change. We only address procedures for submitting and processing an Annual ABBM in these FAQs:
A: H.B. 666 is effective January 1, 2014, and voters may begin to submit Annual ABBMs on or after this date. [§ 86.0015]
A: The Annual ABBM is valid from the time the Early Voting Clerk receives it until the end of the calendar year or until the voter submits a change in registration information. [§ 86.0015(b)]
Q: May an assistant fax a voters’ Annual ABBM?
Q: May Annual ABBMs be faxed from a political campaign building/headquarters?
A: Yes. While there are legal prohibitions on mailing a ballot carrier envelope, there are no legal prohibitions on faxing applications from campaigns. However, a campaign worker faxing the applications on behalf of the applicants must complete the assistance portion of the ABBM. [§ 84.003, § 84.007]
A: It depends on the elections within that calendar year. If it is a primary election year, e.g. 2014, and the voter did not select which party’s ballot they would like to receive, the application should be rejected. However, if it’s an odd-numbered year, e.g. 2015, and the voter did not select any elections, the application would be considered an Annual ABBM.
[§ 86.0015(a)]
A: It depends on if the voter declared one political party or checked the boxes for both the Democratic and Republican primaries. If the voter checks all the boxes, and correctly declares only one party for receipt of a primary ballot, this should be considered an Annual ABBM. If the voter checks all boxes and both political parties, the Early Voting Clerk should reject the application. In addition, the Early Voting Clerk should notify the voter of the reason of the rejection and provide guidance on how to properly re-apply. [§ 86.0015, § 86.001]
Answer: In this case, if the voter first submitted an Annual ABBM they are entitled to receive all ballots in the calendar year. As long as all of the remaining information on the second application (such as the voter’s reason for voting, residence address, etc.) are the same, the second application should be treated as a duplicate. The Early Voting Clerk may send a note that the voter is already set to receive the ballot due to their Annual ABBM.
Answer: In the case where the voter provides two applications with different primaries checked, the second application for ballot by mail will cancel the first application. A letter may be sent to the voter informing them of this action.
A: Before every election, the Voter Registrar should provide an updated List of Registered Voters to the Early Voting Clerk. The Early Voting Clerk should compare the list of Annual ABBM voters to the List of Registered Voters, and work with the Voter Registrar to resolve any discrepancies.
A: Yes. When a voter changes their registration information under Section 15.021 of the Texas Election Code, their Annual ABBM will no longer be valid. This would include a change in the voter’s address or name. [§ 86.0015]
A: The Annual ABBM will be cancelled for the rest of the year. [§ 84.032(d)]
A: A copy of an Annual ABBM is not made public information until the first business day after the election day of the last election for which the application is valid. In other words, the last election in the calendar year. The originals of applications are not available until those materials are delivered to the general custodian of records after the election. [§ 86.014]