Texas Election Code

§ 86.006 — METHOD OF RETURNING MARKED BALLOT

EL § 86.006Title 7. EARLY VOTING · Part A. EARLY VOTING · Ch. 86. CONDUCT OF VOTING BY MAIL

Statute text

(a)A marked ballot voted under this chapter must be returned to the early voting clerk in the official carrier envelope. The carrier envelope may be delivered in another envelope and must be transported and delivered only by:

(1)mail;

(2)common or contract carrier; or

(3)subject to Subsections (a-1) and (a-2), in-person delivery by the voter who voted the ballot. (a-1) The voter may deliver a marked ballot in person to the early voting clerk's office only while the polls are open on election day. A voter who delivers a marked ballot in person must present an acceptable form of identification described by Section 63.0101. (a-2) An in-person delivery of a marked ballot voted under this chapter must be received by an election official at the time of delivery. The receiving official shall record the voter's name, signature, and type of identification provided under Section 63.0101 on a roster prescribed by the secretary of state. The receiving official shall attest on the roster that the delivery complies with this section.

(b)Except as provided by Subsection (c), a carrier envelope may not be returned in an envelope or package containing another carrier envelope.

(c)The carrier envelopes of persons who are registered to vote at the same address may be returned in the same envelope or package.

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Legislative history

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 238 (H.B. 1987), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1159 (H.B. 2449), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1050 (H.B. 1927), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 5), Sec. 12, eff. December 1, 2017. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 4.12, eff. December 2, 2021.