HB2394 - Relating to voter registration, including electronic voter registration.

  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.