This section requires voter-registration notices and proof-of-citizenship checks, and it allows a registration to be canceled if the voter does not provide proof in time.
Sec. 16.0332. CANCELLATION BECAUSE OF CITIZENSHIP STATUS. (a) After the registrar receives notification under Subsection (a-1) of this section, Section 18.068 of this code, or Section 62.113, Government Code, of persons excused or disqualified from jury service because of citizenship status or notification of persons who indicate a lack of citizenship status in connection with a motor vehicle or Department of Public Safety record as provided by Subsection (a-1), the registrar shall deliver to each registered voter whose name appears on the list a written notice requiring the voter to submit to the registrar proof of United States citizenship in the form of a certified copy of the voter's birth certificate, United States passport, or certificate of naturalization or any other form prescribed by the secretary of state. The notice shall be delivered by forwardable mail to the mailing address on the voter's registration application and to any new address of the voter known to the registrar. (a-1) The secretary of state shall enter into an agreement with the Department of Public Safety under which information in the existing statewide computerized voter registration list is compared against information in the database of the Department of Public Safety on a monthly basis to verify the accuracy of citizenship status information previously provided on voter registration applications. In comparing information under this subsection, the secretary of state shall consider only a voter's information in the database of the Department of Public Safety that was derived from documents presented by the voter to the department after the person's current voter registration became effective, and may not consider information derived from documents presented by the voter to the department before the person's current voter registration became effective. (b) If a voter fails to submit to the registrar proof of citizenship on or before the 30th day after the date the notice is mailed, the registrar shall cancel the voter's registration. (c) The registrar shall retain a copy of the notice mailed to a voter under this section on file with the voter's registration application. The registrar shall also retain any proof of citizenship received under this section on file with the application. (d) The secretary of state shall prescribe rules for the administration of this section. (e) Not later than December 31 of each year, the secretary of state shall provide a report to the legislature of the number of voter registrations canceled under this section during the calendar year. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 640, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1316, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 683 (H.B. 174), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 2.05, eff. December 2, 2021.