Signed by Governor Greg Abbott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires voters register their physical address instead of a P.O. box when registering to vote.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a person from establishing a residence at any place the person has not inhabited. A person may not designate a previous residence as a home and fixed place of habitation unless the person inhabits the place at the time of designation and intends to remain (Sec. 1.f).

• Requires the official confirmation form to provide a space for the voter to indicate if the voter is exempt from those requirements, and provide a space to indicate the reason for an exemption, if any (Sec. 3-2).

• Requires the voter to submit to the registrar a written, signed response to the notice that confirms the voter ’s current residence. The response must contain (Sec. 4.a):

• All of the information that a person must include in an application to register to vote;

• A sworn affirmation of the voter ’s current residence; and

• If the voter ’s residence address is a commercial post office box or similar location that does not correspond to a residence, evidence of the voter’s residence address, or an indication that the voter is exempt from those requirements.

• Authorizes a voter ’s residence to be documented by providing a photocopy of the first document, in the following list that corresponds to the voter’s residence (Sec. 5.a):

• A driver ’s license;

• A personal identification card;

• License to carry a concealed handgun;

• An appraisal district document showing the address;

• A utility bill addressed to the voter ’s residence address; or

• An official tax document or Texas Department of Motor Vehicles document showing the registration address of a vehicle the voter owns.

• Authorizes a voter whose residence in this state has no address to document residence under this law by executing an affidavit stating that the voter ’s residence in this state has no address, providing a concise description of the location of the voter ’s residence, and delivering the affidavit to the registrar with the voter ’s response to the confirmation notice (Sec. 5-6.b).

• Specifies this law does not apply to (Sec. 5-6.d):

• A voter who is a member of the armed forces of the United States or the spouse or a dependent of a member;

• A voter enrolled as a full-time student who lives on campus at an institution of higher education;

• A voter whose address is confidential;

• A federal judge, state judge, or spouse of a federal or state judge whose driver ’s license includes the street address of a courthouse; or

• A peace officer whose driver’s license omits the officer’s actual residence address.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires voters register their physical address instead of a P.O. box when registering to vote.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a person from establishing a residence at any place the person has not inhabited. A person may not designate a previous residence as a home and fixed place of habitation unless the person inhabits the place at the time of designation and intends to remain (Sec. 1.f).

• Requires the official confirmation form to provide a space for the voter to indicate if the voter is exempt from those requirements, and provide a space to indicate the reason for an exemption, if any (Sec. 3-2).

• Requires the voter to submit to the registrar a written, signed response to the notice that confirms the voter ’s current residence. The response must contain (Sec. 4.a):

• All of the information that a person must include in an application to register to vote;

• A sworn affirmation of the voter ’s current residence; and

• If the voter ’s residence address is a commercial post office box or similar location that does not correspond to a residence, evidence of the voter’s residence address, or an indication that the voter is exempt from those requirements.

• Authorizes a voter ’s residence to be documented by providing a photocopy of the first document, in the following list that corresponds to the voter’s residence (Sec. 5.a):

• A driver ’s license;

• A personal identification card;

• License to carry a concealed handgun;

• An appraisal district document showing the address;

• A utility bill addressed to the voter ’s residence address; or

• An official tax document or Texas Department of Motor Vehicles document showing the registration address of a vehicle the voter owns.

• Authorizes a voter whose residence in this state has no address to document residence under this law by executing an affidavit stating that the voter ’s residence in this state has no address, providing a concise description of the location of the voter ’s residence, and delivering the affidavit to the registrar with the voter ’s response to the confirmation notice (Sec. 5-6.b).

• Specifies this law does not apply to (Sec. 5-6.d):

• A voter who is a member of the armed forces of the United States or the spouse or a dependent of a member;

• A voter enrolled as a full-time student who lives on campus at an institution of higher education;

• A voter whose address is confidential;

• A federal judge, state judge, or spouse of a federal or state judge whose driver ’s license includes the street address of a courthouse; or

• A peace officer whose driver’s license omits the officer’s actual residence address.

Full Bill Text