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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the language in which a ballot to be voted by mail is |
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printed. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 84.014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 84.014. APPLICATION FOR BALLOT IN ELECTION IN WHICH |
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BALLOT IS REQUIRED TO BE PRINTED IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH. |
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(a) For an election in which ballots to be voted by mail are |
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required to be printed in two or more languages other than English, |
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the secretary of state shall prescribe procedures, including the |
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modification, as appropriate, of the officially prescribed |
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application form for an early voting ballot so that: |
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(1) the applicant for the ballot may indicate on the |
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application the printed language the applicant desires for the |
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ballot; and |
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(2) if the applicant does not indicate on the |
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application a preference for the ballot to be provided in a |
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particular language, the ballot shall be provided to the applicant |
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in English. |
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(b) The early voting clerk shall provide the applicant with |
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a ballot in the language indicated on the application if that |
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language is required to be used for ballots in the election or, if |
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no language is indicated, provide the ballot to the applicant in |
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English. |
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SECTION 2. Section 272.006(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) If a separate translation of the ballot is made under |
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Subsection (a), the translation must be furnished to each voter to |
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whom an early voting ballot to be voted by mail is provided. This |
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subsection does not apply to an election to which Section 84.014 |
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applies. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |