Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that prohibits election officials from mailing unsolicited ballots and drive through voting.

Highlights:

• Specifies if a defendant is 18 years of age or older and is adjudged guilty of an offense, the court shall (Sec. 1-01):

• Make an affirmative finding that the person has been found guilty of a felony and enter the affirmative finding in the judgment of the case; and

• Instruct the defendant regarding how the felony conviction will impact the defendant's right to vote in this state.

• Prohibits the early voting clerk from attempting to solicit a person to complete an application for an early voting ballot by mail, whether directly or through a third party (Sec. 2.01).

• Prohibits a polling place from being located in a tent or other temporary moveable structure or a facility primarily designed for motor vehicles. No voter may cast a vote from inside a motor vehicle (Sec. 3.07.b).

• Requires a person, other than an election officer, who assists a voter following this chapter is required to complete a form stating (Sec. 3.11.a):

• The name and address of the person assisting the voter;

• How the person assisted the voter;

• The reason the assistance was necessary; and

• The relationship of the assistant to the voter.

• Authorizes a voter who has not voted before the time for closing an early voting polling place to vote after that time if the voter is inside or waiting to enter the polling place at closing time (Sec. 3.16.a).

• Prohibits a voting machine used for early voting from being removed from the polling place until the polls close on election day. A defective, or in need of repair, machine may be removed from service and replaced (Sec. 3.19.b).

• Prohibits a polling place from being located in a tent or other temporary movable structure or a parking garage, parking lot, or similar facility designed primarily for motor vehicles in the general election for state and county officers, general primary election, or runoff primary election (Sec. 3.21.b).

• Authorizes the general custodian of election records in a county with a population of less than 100,000 to, and the general custodian of election records in a county with a population of 100,000 or more will implement a video surveillance system that retains a record of all areas containing voted ballots from the time the voted ballots are delivered to the central counting station until the canvass of precinct election returns (Sec. 3-26.b).

• Prohibits the commissioner’s court from accepting a donation of over $1,000 for use in administering elections without the written consent of the secretary of state. The secretary of state may grant consent under only if (Sec. 3-31.b):

• The secretary consults with the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the House of Representatives on the proposed donation; and

• The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives unanimously agree to the secretary's grant of consent.

• Establishes a person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally makes any effort to commit the following (Sec. 4.07):

• Influence the independent exercise of the vote of another in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process;

• Cause a voter to become registered, a ballot to be obtained, or a vote to be cast under false pretenses;

• Count votes or alter a report to include votes the person knows are invalid;

• Refuse to count valid votes or alter a report to exclude valid votes; or

• Cause any intentionally misleading statement, representation, or information to be provided:

• To an election official; or

• On an application for ballot by mail, carrier-envelope, or any other official election-related form or document.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits election officials from mailing unsolicited ballots and drive through voting.

Highlights:

• Specifies if a defendant is 18 years of age or older and is adjudged guilty of an offense, the court shall (Sec. 1-01):

• Make an affirmative finding that the person has been found guilty of a felony and enter the affirmative finding in the judgment of the case; and

• Instruct the defendant regarding how the felony conviction will impact the defendant's right to vote in this state.

• Prohibits the early voting clerk from attempting to solicit a person to complete an application for an early voting ballot by mail, whether directly or through a third party (Sec. 2.01).

• Prohibits a polling place from being located in a tent or other temporary moveable structure or a facility primarily designed for motor vehicles. No voter may cast a vote from inside a motor vehicle (Sec. 3.07.b).

• Requires a person, other than an election officer, who assists a voter following this chapter is required to complete a form stating (Sec. 3.11.a):

• The name and address of the person assisting the voter;

• How the person assisted the voter;

• The reason the assistance was necessary; and

• The relationship of the assistant to the voter.

• Authorizes a voter who has not voted before the time for closing an early voting polling place to vote after that time if the voter is inside or waiting to enter the polling place at closing time (Sec. 3.16.a).

• Prohibits a voting machine used for early voting from being removed from the polling place until the polls close on election day. A defective, or in need of repair, machine may be removed from service and replaced (Sec. 3.19.b).

• Prohibits a polling place from being located in a tent or other temporary movable structure or a parking garage, parking lot, or similar facility designed primarily for motor vehicles in the general election for state and county officers, general primary election, or runoff primary election (Sec. 3.21.b).

• Authorizes the general custodian of election records in a county with a population of less than 100,000 to, and the general custodian of election records in a county with a population of 100,000 or more will implement a video surveillance system that retains a record of all areas containing voted ballots from the time the voted ballots are delivered to the central counting station until the canvass of precinct election returns (Sec. 3-26.b).

• Prohibits the commissioner’s court from accepting a donation of over $1,000 for use in administering elections without the written consent of the secretary of state. The secretary of state may grant consent under only if (Sec. 3-31.b):

• The secretary consults with the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the House of Representatives on the proposed donation; and

• The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives unanimously agree to the secretary's grant of consent.

• Establishes a person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally makes any effort to commit the following (Sec. 4.07):

• Influence the independent exercise of the vote of another in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process;

• Cause a voter to become registered, a ballot to be obtained, or a vote to be cast under false pretenses;

• Count votes or alter a report to include votes the person knows are invalid;

• Refuse to count valid votes or alter a report to exclude valid votes; or

• Cause any intentionally misleading statement, representation, or information to be provided:

• To an election official; or

• On an application for ballot by mail, carrier-envelope, or any other official election-related form or document.

Full Bill Text