AI-assisted research summary: This section lets certain voters by mail choose an assistant, but it requires the assistant to sign an oath and record required information on the carrier envelope.
Sec. 86.010. UNLAWFULLY ASSISTING VOTER VOTING BALLOT BY MAIL. (a) A voter casting a ballot by mail who would be eligible under Section 64.031 to receive assistance at a polling place may select a person as provided by Section 64.032(c) to assist the voter in preparing the ballot. (b) Assistance rendered under this section is limited to that authorized by this code at a polling place, except that a voter with a disability who is physically unable to deposit the ballot and carrier envelope in the mail may also select a person as provided by Section 64.032(c) to assist the voter by depositing a sealed carrier envelope in the mail. (c) The person assisting the voter must sign a written oath prescribed by Section 64.034 that is part of the certificate on the official carrier envelope. (d) If a voter is assisted in violation of this section, the voter's ballot may not be counted. (e) A person who assists a voter to prepare a ballot to be voted by mail shall enter on the official carrier envelope of the voter: (1) the person's signature, printed name, and residence address; (2) the relationship of the person providing the assistance to the voter; and (3) whether the person received or accepted any form of compensation or other benefit from a candidate, campaign, or political committee in exchange for providing assistance. (f) A person who assists a voter commits an offense if the person knowingly fails to comply with Subsections (c) and (e). (g) An offense under this section is a state jail felony. (h) Subsection (f) does not apply: (1) to a violation of Subsection (c), if the person is related to the voter within the second degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as determined under Subchapter B, Chapter 573, Government Code, or was physically living in the same dwelling as the voter at the time of the event; or (2) to a violation of Subsection (e), if the person is related to the voter within the second degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as determined under Subchapter B, Chapter 573, Government Code. (i) An offense under this section for a violation of Subsection (c) is increased to the next higher category of offense if it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that: (1) the defendant was previously convicted of an offense under this code; (2) the offense involved a voter 65 years of age or older; or (3) the defendant committed another offense under this section in the same election. (j) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.12; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1381, Sec. 16, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 393, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 5), Sec. 13, eff. December 1, 2017. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 6.05, eff. December 2, 2021.