Election updates for Sept. 1
ANDERSON – On Sept. 1, many new laws will take effect including laws that will alter the voting process statewide.
Grimes County Elections Department attended the Texas Election Law Seminar, a three-day training in Austin that addresses the upcoming changes to the voting process.
Ballot by Mail
House Bill 3920 makes certain changes to the eligibility requirements for, and the process relating to, voting by mail based on disability.
The bill modifies the definition of disability to include anyone who is expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after election day. Grimes Elections Administrator Lucy Ybarra said modifying the definition to include expecting mothers or mothers that recently birthed a baby is a major improvement. “Weeks before giving birth and the weeks to follow can be vital to the health of the mother and child and the new definition ensures the mom is able to exercise her right to vote,” explained Ybarra
According to the bill, the following do not constitute sufficient cause to entitle a voter to vote by mail under Section 82.002(a): 1) a lack of transportation; 2) a sickness that does not prevent the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without the likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter’s health; 3) a requirement to appear at the voter’s place of employment on election day.
General Election-Related Changes
House Bill 368 – Provides that when offering proof of identification for voting in person, the proof of identification is presented only for the purpose of identifying the voter and not for verification of residence.
House Bill 574 – Provides that a person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally makes an effort to: 1) count votes the person knows are invalid and alter a report to include votes the person knows are invalid; or 2) refuse to count votes the person knows are valid or alter a report to exclude votes the person knows are valid. An offense under this section is a second-degree felony.
House Bill 1128 – Provides a list of individuals who are permitted to be lawfully present in certain locations related to elections.
• Polling Place/ Early Voting Locations: The following may be lawfully present in polling places from the time the presiding judge arrives until the precinct returns have been certified and the election records have been assembled for distribution following the election: election judge or clerk; a watcher; the Secretary of State; a staff member of the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State performing an official duty in accordance with the Election Code; an election official, sheriff, or a staff member of an election official or sheriff delivering election supplies; state inspector; a person admitted to vote; a child under 18 years of age who is accompanying a parent who has been admitted to vote; a person providing assistance to a voter under Section 61.032 or 64.032; a person accompanying a voter who has a disability; a special peace officer appointed by the presiding judge under Section 32.075; the county chair of a political party conducting a primary election, as authorized by Section 172.113; a voting system technician, as authorized by Section 125.010; the county election officer, as defined by Section 31.091, as necessary to perform tasks related to the administration; or a person whose presence has been authorized by the presiding judge in accordance with the Election Code.
• Early Voting Ballot Board: A person may be lawfully present in the meeting place of an early voting ballot board during the time of the board’s operations if the person is: a presiding judge or member of the board; a watcher; a state inspector; a voting system technician, as authorized by Section 125.010; the county election officer, as defined by Section 31.091, as necessary to perform tasks related to the administration of the election; or a person whose presence has been authorized by the presiding judge in accordance with the Election Code.
• Central Counting Station: A person may be lawfully present in the central counting station while ballots are being counted if the person is: a counting station manager, tabulation supervisor, assistant to the tabulation supervisor, presiding judge, or clerk; a watcher; a state inspector; a voting system technician, as authorized by Section 125.010; the county election officer, as defined by Section 31.091, as necessary to perform tasks related to the administration of the election; or a person whose presence has been authorized by the presiding judge in accordance with the Election Code.
For more information on new voting laws or revisions to voting laws visit www.sos.state.tx.us. Contact the Grimes County Election’s Department, www.grimescountytexas. gov or call 936-873-4422.