CHAPTER 19. FINANCING VOTER REGISTRATION - Texas Statutes

ELECTION CODE

TITLE 2. VOTER QUALIFICATIONS AND REGISTRATION

CHAPTER 19. FINANCING VOTER REGISTRATION

Sec. 19.001. STATEMENT OF REGISTRATIONS SUBMITTED TO

COMPTROLLER. (a) Before May 15 of each year, the registrar

shall prepare and submit to the comptroller of public accounts a

statement containing:

(1) the total number of initial registrations for the previous

voting year;

(2) the total number of registrations canceled under Sections

16.031(a)(1), 16.033, and 16.0332 for the previous voting year;

and

(3) the total number of registrations for which information was

updated for the previous voting year.

(b) In each even-numbered year, the registrar shall include in

the statement the total number of voters on the lists of

registered voters on the date of the first election held in the

county in the voting year.

(c) The registrar shall certify that the information in the

statement is accurate.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended

by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 454, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;

Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1316, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Sec. 19.002. ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS BY COMPTROLLER. (a) Each

registrar is entitled to receive the sum of the following

amounts:

(1) 25 cents multiplied by the number of initial registrations

certified under Section 19.001(a)(1);

(2) 40 cents multiplied by the number of canceled registrations

certified under Section 19.001(a)(2);

(3) 40 cents multiplied by the number of updated registrations

under Section 19.001(a)(3); and

(4) in each even-numbered year, 40 cents multiplied by the

difference between the number of registered voters and the number

of initial registrations certified for the two previous voting

years.

(b) After June 1 of each year, the comptroller of public

accounts shall issue warrants pursuant to vouchers submitted by

the registrar and approved by the secretary of state in amounts

that in the aggregate do not exceed the registrar's entitlement.

The secretary of state shall prescribe the procedures necessary

to implement this subsection.

(c) The comptroller may require additional proof to substantiate

the information in the certified statement before issuing a

warrant.

(d) The comptroller may not issue a warrant if on June 1 of the

year in which the warrant is to be issued the most recent notice

received by the comptroller from the secretary of state under

Section 18.065 indicates that the registrar is not in substantial

compliance with Section 15.083, 16.032, 18.042, or 18.065 or with

rules implementing the registration service program.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended

by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 472, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 114, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts

1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 916, Sec. 21, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1997,

75th Leg., ch. 454, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

1107, Sec. 1.08, eff. January 1, 2006.

Sec. 19.0025. ELECTRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF VOUCHERS AND

WARRANTS. (a) The secretary of state shall establish and

maintain an online electronic system for administering vouchers

submitted and warrants issued under Section 19.002.

(b) A registrar must electronically submit a voucher to the

secretary of state using the online electronic system maintained

by the secretary.

(c) The online electronic system shall provide for the direct

deposit of a disbursement made under this chapter in a

registrar's account.

(d) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures necessary

to implement this section.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

619, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 19.003. DISBURSEMENT OF STATE FUNDS. Only funds from the

General Revenue Fund may be appropriated for the disbursements

required by this chapter.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Sec. 19.004. USE OF STATE FUNDS RESTRICTED. (a) Except as

provided by Subsection (d), state funds disbursed under this

chapter may be used only to defray expenses of the registrar's

office in connection with voter registration, including

additional expenses related to:

(1) implementation of the National Voter Registration Act of

1993 (42 U.S.C. Section 1973gg et seq.);

(2) complying with the weekly updating requirements prescribed

by Section 18.063; and

(3) the employment of temporary voter registration personnel for

not more than 39 weeks in a state fiscal year.

(b) The secretary of state shall specify the procedures that

result in additional expenses and that are required under this

section.

(c) Any funds authorized under this chapter that lapse to the

state after the expiration of the two-year period in which they

may be used shall be placed in a special fund administered by the

secretary of state. The secretary of state shall issue money from

this fund to counties with limited technological resources to

upgrade voter registration technology. The secretary of state

shall prescribe procedures necessary to implement this section.

(d) If the secretary of state determines that federal matching

funds are available under the federal Help America Vote Act of

2002, the secretary of state shall certify to the comptroller the

amount of state funds required to qualify for the maximum amount

of federal matching funds. On receipt of the certification, the

comptroller shall deposit from funds otherwise available under

this chapter an amount equal to the certified amount in the

election improvement fund established under Section 31.011.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended

by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 472, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 797, Sec. 32, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts

2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1178, Sec. 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2003,

78th Leg., ch. 1315, Sec. 12, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

194, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 19.005. STATE FUNDS NOT FEES OF OFFICE. State funds

disbursed under this chapter are not and may not be treated as

fees of office.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended

by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 472, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 19.006. STATE FUNDS NOT PART OF COUNTY BUDGET. The

commissioners court may not consider the availability of state

funds under this chapter in adopting the county budget for the

office of the voter registrar.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.