HB 1235 — Relating to the ability of a voter registrar and volunteer deputy registrar to distribute and receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail.

Summary

Relating to the ability of a voter registrar and volunteer deputy registrar to distribute and receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail.

Bill Text

Compared against the Texas statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 2 section(s) of the Texas statutes: Section 13.038, Election Code, Section 84.007(b), Election Code.

• SUBCHAPTER C. APPLICATION FORMS FOR A BALLOT TO BE VOTED BY MAIL Sec. 12.035. APPLICATION FORMS FURNISHED BY VOTER REGISTRAR. (a) A voter registrar shall maintain a supply of official application forms for a ballot to be voted by mail and furnish the forms to voters in person. (b) A voter may submit an application for a ballot to be voted by mail by delivering the application to a voter registrar. (c) A volunteer deputy registrar shall submit to the voter registrar an application for a ballot to be voted by mail as provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 84. Sec. 12.036. DELIVERY OF APPLICATION TO EARLY VOTING CLERK. (a) If a voter to register is not also the early voting clerk, the voter registrar shall deliver in person, to the early voting clerk each completed application for a ballot to be voted by mail submitted to the voter registrar, as provided by this subchapter. The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures necessary to ensure the proper and timely delivery of completed applications that are not delivered in person by the volunteer deputy who receives them. (b) An application shall be delivered to the early voting clerk not later than the deadline provided by Section 84.007(c), but not before an action on application to register has been made as provided by Section 13.072, if such an application to register accompanies an application form for a ballot to be voted by mail.

  amended

• Section 13.038, Election Code

  (a) (b) A volunteer deputy registrar may distribute application forms for a ballot to be voted by mail throughout the county and receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail submitted to the deputy in person as provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 84.

  amended

• Section 84.007(b), Election Code

  (2-a) the voter registrar, if other than the early voting clerk;

  amended

• SUBCHAPTER C. VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS Sec. 84.051. APPLICATION FORMS FURNISHED BY VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR. (a) A volunteer deputy registrar may maintain a supply of official application forms for a ballot to be voted by mail and shall furnish the forms to voters throughout the county in a manner consistent with law. (b) A voter may submit an application for a ballot to be voted by mail by delivering the application to a volunteer deputy registrar. (c) To the extent practicable, the procedure under this section for distributing applications for a ballot to be vote by mail and delivering applications shall be the same as the procedure for delivering a registration application under Subchapter B, Chapter 13. Sec. 84.052. DELIVERY OF APPLICATION TO VOTER REGISTRAR. (a) A volunteer deputy registrar shall deliver in person, or by personal delivery through another designated volunteer deputy, to the voter registrar each completed application for a ballot to be voted by mail submitted to the deputy, as provided by this section. The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures necessary to ensure the proper and timely delivery of completed applications that are not delivered in person by the volunteer deputy who receives them. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an application shall be delivered to the voter registrar not later than 5 p.m. of the fifth day after the date the application is submitted to the volunteer deputy registrar. (c) An application submitted after the 15th day before the date of an election and on or before the last day for a person to timely submit an application for a ballot to be voted by mail for that election as provided by Section 84.007 shall be delivered to the voter registrar not later than 5 p.m. of the next regular business day after the date to timely submit an application for a ballot to be voted by mail for that election as provided by Section 13.143. Sec. 84.053. FAILURE TO DELIVER APPLICATION. (a) A volunteer deputy registrar commits an offense if the deputy fails to comply with Section 84.052. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. (c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor if the deputy's failure to comply is intentional.

  amended

Action History

1. March 10, 2025

   Referred to Elections

2. March 10, 2025

   Read first time

3. November 12, 2024

   Filed

Sponsors

• Erin Zwiener · Primary

Subjects