AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Concerned parties point out that senior citizens and those who are disabled, like other mail voters, apply to vote by mail each election. H.B. 666 seeks to alleviate some of the paperwork for senior and disabled citizens by authorizing a senior or disabled person to apply to vote by mail once a year.

 

H.B. 666 amends current law relating to the elections to which certain applications for a ballot to be voted by mail are applicable.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 86, Election Code, by adding Section 86.0015, as follows:

 

Sec. 86.0015. APPLYING FOR MORE THAN ONE ELECTION IN THE SAME APPLICATION. (a)  Provides that this section applies only to an application for a ballot to be voted by mail that is submitted to the county clerk indicating the ground of eligibility is age or disability, and does not specify the election for which a ballot is requested.

 

(b)  Provides that an application described by Subsection (a) is considered to be an application for a ballot for each election in which the county clerk serves as early voting clerk and:

 

(1)  in which the applicant is eligible to vote; and

 

(2)  that occurs before the earlier of:

 

(A)  the end of the calendar year in which the application was submitted; or

 

(B)  the date the county clerk receives notice from the voter registrar under Subsection (d) that the voter has submitted a change in registration information.

 

(c)  Requires that an application described by Subsection (a) be preserved for the period for preserving the precinct election records for the last election for which the application is effective.

 

(d)  Requires the voter registrar to notify the county clerk following the receipt of a notice of a change in registration information under Section 15.021 (Notice of Change in Registration Information by Voter).

 

SECTION 2. Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies only to an application for a ballot to be voted by mail received on or after the effective date of this Act.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: January 1, 2014.