ELECTION CODE
CHAPTER 19. FINANCING VOTER REGISTRATION
§ 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, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 454, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts
2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1316, § 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
§ 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 14.025, 16.032, 18.042, or 18.063 or with
rules implementing the registration service program.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 472, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts
1989, 71st Leg., ch. 114, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1993,
73rd Leg., ch. 916, § 21, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1997, 75th
Leg., ch. 454, § 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
§ 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, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.
§ 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.); and
(2) complying with the weekly updating requirements
prescribed by Section 18.063.
(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, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 472, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts
1995, 74th Leg., ch. 797, § 32, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 2001,
77th Leg., ch. 1178, § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2003, 78th
Leg., ch. 1315, § 12, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.
§ 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, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 472, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
§ 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, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.
