Dutton Bill Brings Online Voter Registration, Ends Volunteer Deputy Registrars

The text as introduced · 838 words

89R11346 LRM-D

By: Dutton
H.B. No. 2394

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to voter registration, including electronic voter

registration.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 12.006(f), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(f) A regular deputy registrar may not assist in the

registration of voters until the deputy registrar has completed

training developed under Section 12.007 [ 13.047 ]. At the time of

appointment, the voter registrar shall provide information about

the times and places at which training is offered.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is

amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:

Sec. 13.009. ELECTRONIC VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) The

secretary of state shall implement a program to allow a person who

has a valid state-issued driver's license or personal

identification card to complete a voter registration application

over the Internet from an official state website. The secretary of

state may develop an Internet website for this purpose.

(b) An applicant for electronic voter registration must:

(1) attest to the truth of the information provided on

the application by affirmatively accepting the information as true;

(2) affirmatively consent to the use of the signature

on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification card

for voter registration purposes;

(3) provide the information required under Section

13.002(c); and

(4) provide the audit number and date of issuance of

the applicant's Texas driver's license or personal identification

card issued by the Department of Public Safety.

(c) When a person submits an application under this section,

the secretary of state shall compare the information provided by

the applicant against Department of Public Safety records. If any

information submitted by an applicant does not match Department of

Public Safety records, the secretary shall reject the application.

(d) When a person submits an application under this section,

the Internet Protocol address of the device used to submit the

application shall be recorded and included with the applicant's

application file under Section 13.101 or 13.102, as appropriate.

(e) The completed online application and information from

the Department of Public Safety, including all copies of the

applicant's digital signature on record, shall be provided to:

(1) the voter registrar for the county where the

applicant currently resides; and

(2) the secretary of state for the statewide

computerized voter registration list under Section 18.061.

(f) An application submitted electronically under this

section is considered for all purposes as an application submitted

by mail under this title.

(g) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to

implement this section.

SECTION 3. Section 13.047, Election Code, is transferred to

Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Election Code, and redesignated as

Section 12.007, Election Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 12.007 [ 13.047 ]. TRAINING STANDARDS FOR DEPUTY

REGISTRARS. (a) The secretary of state shall:

(1) adopt standards of training in election law

relating to the registration of voters;

(2) develop materials for a standardized curriculum

for that training; and

(3) distribute the materials as necessary to each

county voter registrar.

(b) The training standards may include the passage of an

examination at the end of a training program.

SECTION 4. Section 20.037(c), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(c) An application form delivered by mail must be

accompanied by a notice informing the applicant that the

application may be submitted in person or by mail to the voter

registrar of the county in which the applicant resides [ or in person

to a volunteer deputy registrar for delivery to the voter registrar

of the county in which the applicant resides ].

SECTION 5. Section 20.122(c), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(c) The application forms must be accompanied by a notice

informing the licensees that the applications may be submitted in

person or by mail to the voter registrar of the county in which they

reside [ or in person to a volunteer deputy registrar for delivery to

the voter registrar of the county in which they reside ].

SECTION 6. Section 31.040(b), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) The commissioners court or the administrator may

require any or all of the administrator's deputies[ , other than

unpaid volunteer deputy registrars, ] to give a bond similar to that

required of the administrator in an amount not exceeding the amount

of the administrator's bond.

SECTION 7. Section 31.161(b), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) The joint elections commission or the joint elections

administrator may require any or all of the administrator's

deputies[ , other than unpaid volunteer deputy registrars, ] to give

a bond similar to that required of the administrator in an amount

not exceeding the amount of the administrator's bond.

SECTION 8. The following provisions of the Election Code

are repealed:

(1) the heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 13; and

(2) Sections 13.031, 13.032, 13.033, 13.034, 13.035,

13.036, 13.037, 13.038, 13.039, 13.040, 13.041, 13.042, 13.043,

13.044, 13.045, 13.046, and 13.048.

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.