By: Miller	H.B. No. 929

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to certain early voting procedures.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 67.003(b), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), each local
	canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at
	the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer [For
	an election held on the uniform election date in May, the
	local     canvass must occur] not later than the 11th day after
	election day and not earlier than the later of:
	(1)  the third day after election day;
	(2)  the date on which the early voting ballot board has
	verified and counted all provisional ballots, if a provisional
	ballot has been cast in the election; or
	(3)  the date on which all timely received ballots cast
	from addresses outside of the United States are counted, if a ballot
	to be voted by mail in the election was provided to a person outside
	of the United States.
	SECTION 2.  Section 84.011, Election Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  In addition to the requirements imposed by Subsection
	(a), the officially prescribed application form for an early voting
	ballot must include a space for the voter to provide a change of
	residence address within the county, if applicable.
	SECTION 3.  Section 86.001, Election Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
	(f)  If the application includes a change of address within
	the county, the early voting clerk shall notify the voter registrar
	of the change and the registrar shall update the voter's
	registration accordingly.
	SECTION 4.
	Section 86.002, Election Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
	(a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the clerk is not
	required to provide a form for a statement of residence to a voter
	who indicated a change of address within the county on the voter's
	application for an early voting ballot to be voted by mail.
	SECTION 5.  Section 101.057, Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 101.057.  RETURN OF VOTED BALLOT. (a)  A ballot voted
	under this subchapter may be returned to the early voting clerk by
	mail, common or contract carrier, or courier.
	(b)  A ballot voted by a voter described by Section
	101.001(2)(A) or (B) shall be counted if the ballot arrives at the
	address on the carrier envelope not later than the sixth day after
	the date of the election, except that if that date falls on a
	Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, then the
	deadline is extended to the next regular business day.
	SECTION 6.  Section 67.003(a), Election Code, is repealed.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.