HB3218 - Relating to registering to vote and voting while in custody at certain county jails and related procedures.

  89R11348 JDK-D     By: Dutton H.B. No. 3218       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to registering to vote and voting while in custody at   certain county jails and related procedures.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 43, Election Code, is   amended by adding Section 43.008 to read as follows:           Sec.   43.008.     COUNTY JAIL AS POLLING PLACE. (a)   The county   jail in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more shall   serve as a polling place for any election in that county.           (b)     Only a resident of the county who is in custody at the   county jail and who has not been finally convicted of the offense   for which the resident is in custody is eligible to vote at a   polling place established under this section.           (c)     A polling place established under this section must   allow a voter to vote in the same elections in which the voter would   be entitled to vote where the voter resides.           (d)     A county jail serving as a polling place under this   section must provide a voter registration application to any person   in custody who requests an application and is eligible to vote at   the jail as provided by this section.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding   Section 63.0091 to read as follows:           Sec.   63.0091.     REGISTRATION AT COUNTY JAIL POLLING PLACE;   VOTING PROCEDURES.   (a) This section applies to the conduct of   voting and to the registration of voters notwithstanding and in   addition to other applicable provisions of this code.           (b)     A person who would be eligible to vote in an election   under Section 11.001, but for the requirement to be a registered   voter, shall be accepted for voting at a county jail described by   Section 43.008 if, on the day the person offers to vote, the person:                 (1)     is in custody at the jail and has not been finally   convicted of the offense for which the person is in custody;                 (2)     submits a voter registration application that   complies with Section 13.002; and                 (3)  either:                       (A)     presents proof of identification in a form   described by Section 63.0101 that also establishes the person's   residence in the county where the county jail is located; or                       (B)     establishes the person's identification and   residence through records maintained by the county jail.           (c)     Persons voting under this section shall be processed   separately at the polling place from persons who are voting under   regular procedures.           (d)     The secretary of state shall prescribe the procedures   necessary to implement this section and to ensure the proper and   orderly conduct of elections.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.