The secretary of state must run an interstate voter registration crosscheck program, follow privacy and election-law requirements, limit certain costs, report quarterly, and use National Change of Address data.
Sec. 18.062. INTERSTATE VOTER REGISTRATION CROSSCHECK PROGRAM. (a) To maintain the statewide voter registration list and to prevent duplication of registration in more than one state or jurisdiction, the secretary of state shall: (1) cooperate with other states and jurisdictions to develop systems to compare voters, voter history, and voter registration lists to identify voters: (A) whose addresses have changed; (B) who are not qualified under Section 11.002(a)(4); or (C) who are registered to vote in more than one state; or (2) identify and contract with the provider of a private sector data system to identify voters: (A) whose addresses have changed; (B) who are registered to vote in more than one state; (C) who are deceased; or (D) who are not qualified under Section 11.002(a)(4). (a-1) A private sector data system under Subsection (a)(2) must have demonstrated an ability to work with registered voter identification and matching systems. (b) A system developed under this section and any vendor involved with the system must comply with: (1) the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Section 20501 et seq.) and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Section 20901 et seq.); and (2) all state and federal laws relating to the protection of personal information. (c) The cost to begin operations with a system under Subsection (a)(2) may not exceed $100,000. (d) The cost of continuing operations with a system under Subsection (a)(2) may not exceed one dollar for each voter identified under Subsection (a)(2). (e) The secretary of state may not provide to a system under Subsection (a)(2) any information that is not: (1) found in a voter roll; and (2) necessary to identify voters under Subsection (a)(2). (f) The secretary of state shall record information related to the system under Subsection (a)(2) and shall submit to the legislature a report on that information not later than the first day of each quarter of the state's fiscal year. (g) A contract with a system under Subsection (a)(2) may not require any additional duty of the state not required by this section. (h) The secretary of state may not contract with a private sector data system under Subsection (a)(2) unless the system: (1) requires a background check for each employee of a potential vendor for the system; and (2) uses data from the National Change of Address database. (i) In addition to using a system described by Subsection (a), the secretary of state shall use data from the National Change of Address database to identify voters whose addresses have changed for the purpose of preventing duplication of registration in more than one state or jurisdiction. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 473 (S.B. 795), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1156 (S.B. 1070), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.