79R8978 DRH-D

By: Alonzo H.B. No. 2207



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to allowing a political subdivision to hold a local option
election on whether a lawfully admitted resident alien may vote in
an election held by the political subdivision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 2, Election Code, is amended by adding
Chapter 21 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 21. VOTING BY RESIDENT ALIEN
Sec. 21.001. LOCAL OPTION ELECTION. (a) The governing body
of a political subdivision may order an election in the political
subdivision on the question of whether a person who is lawfully
admitted for permanent residence, as defined by 8 U.S.C. Section
1101, may vote in an election held by the political subdivision.
(b) At the election, the ballot shall be printed to permit
voting for or against the proposition: "Voting by a person lawfully
admitted for permanent residence in the United States in an
election held by (name of political subdivision)."
(c) If a majority of the votes received in the election
approve the proposition:
(1) a person who meets the qualifications to vote
under Section 11.002, excluding United States citizenship, is
qualified to vote in an election held by the political subdivision
if the person is lawfully admitted for permanent residence; and
(2) a person who is eligible to register to vote under
Section 13.001, excluding United States citizenship, is eligible to
register to vote in an election held by the political subdivision if
the person is lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
Sec. 21.002. FORMS AND PROCEDURE. (a) The secretary of
state shall prescribe the design and content of a:
(1) form to apply for registration to vote by a person
who is qualified to vote under this chapter; and
(2) limited use voter registration certificate for a
person who has registered to vote under this chapter.
(b) The procedure for the administration of a limited use
voter registration certificate issued under this chapter is the
same as the procedure for the administration of a voter
registration certificate under this title.
(c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules for the
verification of a person's status at the time a person applies to
register to vote under this chapter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2006, but only
if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 79th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2005, relating to permitting a lawfully admitted
resident alien to vote in an election held by a political
subdivision is approved by the voters.

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