SB979 - Relating to voter registration at polling places.

  89R5034 PRL-D     By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 979       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to voter registration at polling places.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 20.001, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:           (d-1)     Each polling place is designated as a voter   registration agency.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 20, Election Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter F to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER F.   POLLING PLACE           Sec.   20.151.     APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other   provisions of this chapter apply to a polling place except   provisions that conflict with this subchapter.           Sec.   20.152.     REGISTRATION PROCEDURE. (a)   An election   officer at the polling place shall provide to each person of voting   age who is lawfully present in the polling place and is not   registered to vote in the election an opportunity to complete a   voter registration application form.           (b)     A polling place shall use the official form prescribed   by the secretary of state.           Sec.   20.153.     DECLINATION FORM NOT REQUIRED. A polling   place is not required to comply with the procedures prescribed by   this chapter relating to the form for a declination of voter   registration.           Sec.   20.154.     NOTIFICATION OF INELIGIBILITY TO VOTE IN   CURRENT ELECTION REQUIRED. An election officer who provides a   person an opportunity to complete a voter registration application   under this subchapter shall notify the person that the person is not   eligible to vote in the current election.          SECTION 3.  Section 61.001(a-1), Election Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a-1)  Under this code, a person may be lawfully present in a   polling place during the time described by Subsection (a) if the   person is:                (1)  an election judge or clerk;                (2)  a watcher;                (3)  the secretary of state;                (4)  a staff member of the Elections Division of the   Office of the Secretary of State performing an official duty in   accordance with this code;                (5)  an election official, a sheriff, or a staff member   of an election official or sheriff delivering election supplies;                (6)  a state inspector;                (7)  a person admitted to vote;                (8)  a child under 18 years of age who is accompanying a   parent who has been admitted to vote;                (9)  a person providing assistance to a voter under   Section 61.032 or 64.032;                (10)  a person accompanying a voter who has a   disability;                (11)  a special peace officer appointed by the   presiding judge under Section 32.075;                (12)  the county chair of a political party conducting   a primary election, as authorized by Section 172.1113;                (13)  a voting system technician, as authorized by   Section 125.010;                (14)  the county election officer, as defined by   Section 31.091, as necessary to perform tasks related to the   administration of the election; [ or ]                (15)  a person whose presence has been authorized by   the presiding judge in accordance with this code ; or                 (16)     a person registering to vote under Subchapter F,   Chapter 20 .          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.