bill ending the voter ID reasonable impediment option

The text as introduced · 541 words

89R13835 LRM-D

By: Creighton
S.B. No. 2494

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the acceptance of a voter.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 63.001(b), (d), and (e), Election Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (h), on offering to

vote, a voter must present to an election officer at the polling

place[ :

[ (1) ] one form of photo identification listed in

Section 63.0101(a)[ ; or

[ (2) one form of identification listed in Section

63.0101(b) accompanied by the declaration described by Subsection

(i) ].

(d) If, as determined under Subsection (c), the voter's name

is on the precinct list of registered voters and the voter's

identity can be verified from the documentation presented under

Subsection (b), the voter shall be accepted for voting. [ An

election officer may not question the reasonableness of an

impediment sworn to by a voter in a declaration described by

Subsection (i). ]

(e) On accepting a voter, an election officer shall indicate

beside the voter's name on the list of registered voters that the

voter is accepted for voting. [ If the voter executes a declaration

of reasonable impediment to meet the requirement for identification

under Subsection (b), the election officer must affix the voter's

voter registration number to the declaration either in numeric or

bar code form. ]

SECTION 2. Section 63.004(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) The secretary of state may prescribe forms that combine

the poll list, the signature roster, or any other form used in

connection with the acceptance of voters at polling places with

each other or with the list of registered voters. The secretary

shall prescribe any special instructions necessary for using the

combination forms. [ The combination forms must include space for

an election officer to indicate whether a voter executed a

declaration of reasonable impediment under Section 63.001(i). ]

SECTION 3. Section 272.011(b), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) The secretary of state shall prepare the translation for

election materials required to be provided in a language other than

English or Spanish for the following state prescribed voter forms:

(1) voter registration application form required by

Section 13.002;

(2) the confirmation form required by Section 15.051;

(3) the voting instruction poster required by Section

62.011;

(4) [ the reasonable impediment declaration required

by Section 63.001(b);

[ (5) ] the statement of residence form required by

Section 63.0011;

(5) [ (6) ] the provisional ballot affidavit required

by Section 63.011;

(6) [ (7) ] the application for a ballot by mail

required by Section 84.011;

(7) [ (8) ] the carrier envelope and voting

instructions required by Section 86.013; and

(8) [ (9) ] any other voter forms that the secretary of

state identifies as frequently used and for which state resources

are otherwise available.

SECTION 4. The following provisions are repealed:

(1) Section 63.001(i), Election Code;

(2) Section 63.0013, Election Code; and

(3) Section 63.0101(b), Election Code.

SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an

election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.