Bill Caption

Relating to identification requirements for early voting by mail.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

SB 1509 would require a voter applying for a mail-in ballot to include in their application an unexpired or recently expired driver's license number or the last 4 digits of their social security number, and to sign the application in ink, a photocopied signature would not be valid.  A voter who is 70 or older would be allowed to use an expired driver's license number so long as the driver's license is otherwise valid.

Intentionally accepting a ballot for voting or causing a ballot to be accepted for voting that a person knows does not meet these requirements would be a Class A misdemeanor.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action supports SB 1509 because it would support our limited government and individual liberty principles by strengthening the integrity of elections in Texas. This bill would enact additional security to Texas elections by requiring voters to include an identification number on mail-in ballot applications and to sign the application in ink, making mail-in ballot fraud more difficult to perpetuate.