89R3000 PRL-D     By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 1802       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to voter registration; creating criminal offenses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 13.002(c), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (c)  A registration application must include:                (1)  the applicant's first name, middle name, if any,   last name, and former name, if any;                (2)  the month, day, and year of the applicant's birth;                (3)  a statement that the applicant is a United States   citizen;                (4)  a statement that the applicant is a resident of the   county;                (5)  a statement that the applicant has not been   determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate   jurisdiction to be:                      (A)  totally mentally incapacitated; or                      (B)  partially mentally incapacitated without the   right to vote;                (6)  a statement that the applicant has not been   finally convicted of a felony or that the applicant is a felon   eligible for registration under Section 13.001;                (7)  the applicant's residence address or, if the   residence has no address, the address at which the applicant   receives mail and a concise description of the location of the   applicant's residence;                (8)  [the following information:                      [(A)]  the applicant's Texas driver's license   number or the number of a personal identification card issued by the   Department of Public Safety;                      [(B)  if the applicant has not been issued a   number described by Paragraph (A), the last four digits of the   applicant's social security number; or                      [(C)  a statement by the applicant that the   applicant has not been issued a number described by Paragraph (A) or   (B);]                (9)  if the application is made by an agent, a statement   of the agent's relationship to the applicant; and                (10)  the city and county in which the applicant   formerly resided.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is   amended by adding Section 13.0071 to read as follows:          Sec. 13.0071.  ILLEGAL REGISTRATION. (a)  A person commits   an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally:                (1)  applies to register as a voter in this state; and                (2)  is not a United States citizen.          (b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second   degree.          (c)  If conduct that constitutes an offense under this   section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor   may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.          SECTION 3.  Section 13.072, Election Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as   follows:          (a)  Unless the registrar challenges the applicant, the   registrar shall approve the application if:                (1)  the registrar determines that an application   complies with Section 13.002 and indicates that the applicant is   eligible for registration; [and]                (2)  [for an applicant who has not included a statement   described by Section 13.002(c)(8)(C),] the registrar verifies with   the secretary of state [:                      [(A)]  the applicant's Texas driver's license   number or number of a personal identification card issued by the   Department of Public Safety; and                (3)  the registrar verifies the applicant's citizenship    [or                      [(B)  the last four digits of the applicant's   social security number].          (a-1)  The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures   necessary to verify the citizenship of an applicant as required   under Subsection (a)(3).          SECTION 4.  Section 13.122(a), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  In addition to the other statements and spaces for   entering information that appear on an officially prescribed   registration application form, each official form must include:                (1)  the statement:  "I understand that giving false   information to procure a voter registration is perjury and a crime   under state and federal law.";                (2)  a space for the applicant's registration number;                (3)  a space for the applicant's Texas driver's license   number or number of a personal identification card issued by the   Department of Public Safety;                (4)  a space for the applicant's telephone number;                (5)  [a space for the applicant's social security   number;                [(6)]  a space for the applicant's sex;                (6) [(7)]  a statement indicating that the furnishing   of the applicant's telephone number and sex is optional;                (7) [(8)]  a space or box for indicating whether the   applicant or voter is submitting new registration information or a   change in current registration information;                (8) [(9)]  a statement instructing a voter who is using   the form to make a change in current registration information to   enter the voter's name and the changed information in the   appropriate spaces on the form;                (9) [(10)]  a statement that if the applicant declines   to register to vote, that fact will remain confidential and will be   used only for voter registration purposes;                (10) [(11)]  a statement that if the applicant does   register to vote, information regarding the agency or office to   which the application is submitted will remain confidential and   will be used only for voter registration purposes;                (11) [(12)]  a space or box for indicating whether the   applicant is interested in working as an election judge;                (12) [(13)]  a statement warning that a conviction for   making a false statement may result in imprisonment for up to the   maximum amount of time provided by law, a fine of up to the maximum   amount provided by law, or both the imprisonment and the fine; and                (13) [(14)]  any other voter registration information   required by federal law or considered appropriate and required by   the secretary of state.          SECTION 5.  Section 16.031(a), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The registrar shall cancel a voter's registration   immediately on receipt of:                (1)  notice under Section 13.072(b), 15.021, or   18.0681(d) or a response under Section 15.053 that the voter's   residence is outside the county;                (2)  an abstract of the voter's death certificate under   Section 16.001(a) or an abstract of an application indicating that   the voter is deceased under Section 16.001(b);                (3)  an abstract of a final judgment of the voter's   total mental incapacity, partial mental incapacity without the   right to vote, conviction of a felony, or disqualification under   Section 16.002, 16.003, or 16.004;                (4)  notice under Section 112.012 that the voter has   applied for a limited ballot in another county;                (5)  notice from a voter registration official in   another state that the voter has registered to vote outside this   state;                (6)  notice from the early voting clerk under Section   101.053 that a federal postcard application submitted by an   applicant states a voting residence address located outside the   registrar's county; or                (7)  notice from the secretary of state that the voter   has registered to vote in another county, as determined by the   voter's driver's license number or personal identification card   number issued by the Department of Public Safety [or social   security number].          SECTION 6.  Sections 84.002(a) and (b-1), Election Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  An early voting ballot application must include:                (1)  the applicant's name and the address at which the   applicant is registered to vote;                (1-a) for an applicant registered to vote under Chapter   13 before September 1, 2025, the following information:                      (A)  the number of the applicant's driver's   license, election identification certificate, or personal   identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety;                      (B)  if the applicant has not been issued a number   described by Paragraph (A), the last four digits of the applicant's   social security number; or                      (C)  a statement by the applicant that the   applicant has not been issued a number described by Paragraph (A) or   (B);                (1-b) for an applicant registered to vote under Chapter   13 on or after September 1, 2025, the number of the applicant's   driver's license, election identification certificate, or personal   identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety;                (2)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail   on the ground of absence from the county of residence, the address   outside the applicant's county of residence to which the ballot is   to be mailed;                (3)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail   on the ground of age or disability, the address of the hospital,   nursing home or other long-term care facility, or retirement   center, or of a person related to the applicant within the second   degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as   determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, if the applicant is   living at that address and that address is different from the   address at which the applicant is registered to vote;                (4)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail   on the ground of confinement in jail, the address of the jail or of a   person related to the applicant within the degree described by   Subdivision (3);                (5)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail   on any ground, an indication of each election for which the   applicant is applying for a ballot;                (6)  an indication of the ground of eligibility for   early voting; and                (7)  for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail   on the ground of involuntary civil commitment, the address of the   facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Civil   Commitment Office or of a person related to the applicant within the   degree of consanguinity described by Subdivision (3).          (b-1)  A person may use the number of a driver's license,   election identification certificate, or personal identification   card that has expired for the purpose of fulfilling the requirement   under Subsection (a)(1-a) or (1-b) if the license or identification   is otherwise valid.          SECTION 7.  Section 84.011(a), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The officially prescribed application form for an early   voting ballot must include:                (1)  immediately preceding the signature space the   statement: "I certify that the information given in this   application is true, and I understand that giving false information   in this application is a crime.";                (2)  a statement informing the applicant of the   offenses prescribed by Sections 84.003 and 84.004;                (3)  spaces for entering an applicant's voter   registration number and county election precinct of registration,   with a statement informing the applicant that failure to furnish   that information does not invalidate the application;                (3-a) a space for entering the information required   under Section 84.002(a)(1-a) or (1-b); and                (4)  on an application for a ballot to be voted by mail:                      (A)  a space for an applicant applying on the   ground of absence from the county of residence to indicate the date   on or after which the applicant can receive mail at the address   outside the county;                      (B)  a space for indicating the fact that an   applicant whose application is signed by a witness cannot make the   applicant's mark and a space for indicating the relationship or   lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant;                      (C)  a space for entering an applicant's telephone   number, with:                            (i)  a statement informing the applicant   that failure to furnish that information does not invalidate the   application; and                            (ii)  a statement prescribed by the   secretary of state explaining the benefits of furnishing that   information, including how that information assists the early   voting clerk;                      (D)  a space or box for an applicant applying on   the ground of age or disability to indicate that the address to   which the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or   relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), if applicable;                      (E)  a space or box for an applicant applying on   the ground of confinement in jail or involuntary civil commitment   to indicate that the address to which the ballot is to be mailed is   the address of a relative described by Section 84.002(a)(4) or (7),   if applicable;                      (F)  a space for an applicant applying on the   ground of age or disability to indicate if the application is an   application under Section 86.0015;                      (G)  spaces for entering the signature, printed   name, and residence address of any person assisting the applicant;                      (H)  a statement informing the applicant of the   condition prescribed by Section 81.005; and                      (I)  a statement informing the applicant of the   requirement prescribed by Section 86.003(c).          SECTION 8.  Section 84.014, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 84.014.  ACTION BY EARLY VOTING CLERK ON CERTAIN   APPLICATIONS. (a) If an applicant provides a date of birth or [,]   driver's license number [, or social security number] on the   applicant's application for an early voting ballot to be voted by   mail that is different from or in addition to the information   maintained by the voter registrar in accordance with Title 2, the   early voting clerk shall notify the voter registrar.  The voter   registrar shall update the voter's record with the information   provided by the applicant.          (b)  This subsection applies only to an applicant registered   to vote under Chapter 13 before September 1, 2025.  If an applicant   provides a social security number on the applicant's application   for an early voting ballot to be voted by mail that is different   from the information maintained by the voter registrar in   accordance with Title 2, the early voting clerk shall notify the   voter registrar.  The voter registrar shall update the voter's   record with the information provided by the applicant.          SECTION 9.  Sections 86.001(f) and (f-1), Election Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (f)  If the information required under Section   84.002(a)(1-a) or (1-b) included on the application does not   identify the same voter identified on the applicant's application   for voter registration under Section 13.002(c)(8), the clerk shall   reject the application.          (f-1)  If an application is rejected under Subsection (f),   the clerk shall provide notice of the rejection in accordance with   Subsection (c).  The notice must include information regarding the   ability to correct or add information required under Section   84.002(a)(1-a) or (1-b) through the online tool described by   Section 86.015(c).          SECTION 10.  Section 86.002(g), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (g)  The carrier envelope must include a space that is hidden   from view when the envelope is sealed for the voter to enter the   following information:                (1)  for a voter registered to vote under Chapter 13   before September 1, 2025:                      (A)  the number of the voter's driver's license,   election identification certificate, or personal identification   card issued by the Department of Public Safety;                      (B) [(2)]  if the voter has not been issued a   number described by Subdivision (1), the last four digits of the   voter's social security number; or                      (C) [(3)]  a statement by the applicant that the   applicant has not been issued a number described by Subdivision (1)   or (2); and                (2)  for a voter registered to vote under Chapter 13 on   or after September 1, 2025, the number of the voter's driver's   license, election identification certificate, or personal   identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety.          SECTION 11.  Sections 86.015(b) and (c), Election Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (b)  The online tool developed or provided under Subsection   (a) must require the voter to provide, before permitting the voter   to access information described by that subsection:                (1)  for a voter registered to vote under Chapter 13   before September 1, 2025:                      (A)  the voter's name and date of birth and the   last four digits of the voter's social security number; and                      (B) [(2)]  the voter's:                            (i) [(A)]  driver's license number; or                            (ii) [(B)]  personal identification card   number or election identification certificate number issued by the   Department of Public Safety; and                (2)  for a voter registered to vote under Chapter 13 on   or after September 1, 2025:                      (A)  the voter's name and date of birth; and                      (B)  the voter's:                            (i)  driver's license number; or                            (ii)  personal identification card number or   election identification certificate number issued by the   Department of Public Safety.          (c)  An online tool used under this section must:                (1)  for each election, record:                      (A)  each application for a ballot to be voted by   mail received by the clerk; and                      (B)  each carrier envelope sent to a voter by the   clerk;                (2)  for each carrier envelope, record or assign a   serially numbered and sequentially issued barcode or tracking   number that is unique to each envelope;                (3)  update the applicable Internet website as soon as   practicable after each of the following events occurs:                      (A)  receipt by the early voting clerk of the   person's application for a ballot to be voted by mail;                      (B)  acceptance or rejection by the early voting   clerk of the person's application for a ballot to be voted by mail;                      (C)  placement in the mail by the early voting   clerk of the person's official ballot;                      (D)  receipt by the early voting clerk of the   person's marked ballot; and                      (E)  acceptance or rejection by the early voting   ballot board of a person's marked ballot; and                (4)  allow a voter to add or correct information   required under Section 84.002(a)(1-a) or (1-b) or Section   86.002(g).          SECTION 12.  Section 87.0271(a), Election Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  This section applies to an early voting ballot voted by   mail:                (1)  for which the voter did not sign the carrier   envelope certificate;                (2)  for which it cannot immediately be determined   whether the signature on the carrier envelope certificate is that   of the voter;                (3)  missing any required statement of residence;                (4)  missing information or containing incorrect   information required under Section 84.002(a)(1-a) or (1-b) or   Section 86.002; or                (5)  containing incomplete information with respect to   a witness.          SECTION 13.  Section 87.0411(a), Election Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  This section applies to an early voting ballot voted by   mail:                (1)  for which the voter did not sign the carrier   envelope certificate;                (2)  for which it cannot immediately be determined   whether the signature on the carrier envelope certificate is that   of the voter;                (3)  missing any required statement of residence;                (4)  missing information or containing incorrect   information required under Section 84.002(a)(1-a) or (1-b) or   Section 86.002; or                (5)  containing incomplete information with respect to   a witness.          SECTION 14.  Section 101.053, Election Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as   follows:          (b)  If an applicant provides a date of birth or [,] driver's   license number [, or social security number] on the applicant's   federal postcard application that is different from or in addition   to the information maintained by the voter registrar in accordance   with Title 2, the early voting clerk shall notify the voter   registrar.  The voter registrar shall update the voter's record   with the information provided by the applicant.          (b-1)  This subsection applies only to an applicant   registered to vote before September 1, 2025.  If an applicant   provides a social security number on the applicant's federal   postcard application that is different from the information   maintained by the voter registrar in accordance with Title 2, the   early voting clerk shall notify the voter registrar.  The voter   registrar shall update the voter's record with the information   provided by the applicant.          SECTION 15.  The following provisions of the Election code   are repealed:                (1)  Section 13.004(b); and                (2)  Section 13.122(c).          SECTION 16.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.