Texas Administrative Code
Title 1 - ADMINISTRATION
Part 4 - OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Chapter 81 - ELECTIONS
Subchapter A - VOTER REGISTRATION
Section 81.7 - Directive for High School Deputy Registrars
Universal Citation: 1 TX Admin Code ยง 81.7
Current through Reg. 49, No. 52; December 27, 2024
(a) The directive for high school deputy registrars dated July 31, 1998 is adopted. Copies are available from the Secretary of State's Elections Division, P.O. Box 12887, Austin, Texas 78711. The Elections Division shall provide a copy of this directive to each high school deputy registrar in the state.
(b) Summary and Purpose. In accordance with the provisions of Texas Election Code Annotated, §31.003, §13.046, and the National Voter Registration Act, this directive updates the March 15, 1995 directive and sets forth requirements for public and private high school principals to act as deputy voter registrars in registering high school students and employees of the high school.
(c) Definitions.
(1) High School Principal. The administrator
of a public or private high school.
(2) Designated Representative. Any person
employed at a public or private high school as an administrative staff member
or teacher who is designated by the principal to act in lieu of the principal
as a deputy voter registrar for the high school. The principal shall provide a
designated representative with a form or card that identifies the designated
representative as a high school deputy registrar.
(3) High School Student. Any individual
enrolled full-time or part-time at a public or private high school as a student
who is engaged in the study of standard curricula offered by the high
school.
(4) Employee. A person who
works for wages or a salary at a public or private high school.
(5) Final Month. The final month of each
semester is the last 30 day period within the semester.
(d) Duties of High School Deputy Voter Registrar
(1) Obtaining Voter Registration
Applications and Materials from School Board Administrator or Secretary of
State. A high school principal or designated representative acting as a deputy
voter registrar shall procure from the school board administrator or Secretary
of State a sufficient supply of voter registration applications and notice
forms. It is essential that high school deputy voter registrars contact the
Secretary of State for registration applications and not the county voter
registrar; the voter registrar's applications are not coded for use by high
school deputy registrars.
(2)
Distributing Voter Registration Applications and Materials to Eligible Students
and Employees. A high school deputy registrar shall distribute voter
registration applications during the final month of each semester to high
school students who are or will be 18 years of age or older during that
semester. Applications may also be distributed at any time during the school
year to students and employees of the high school who request them. The
application form must be accompanied by a notice which informs the high school
student or employee that he or she may:
(A)
deliver the application form in person to the voter registrar or elections
administrator of the county in which the applicant resides;
(B) mail the application form to the voter
registrar or elections administrator of the county in which the applicant
resides; or
(C) deliver the
application form in person to the high school deputy registrar or a volunteer
deputy registrar for delivery to the voter registrar or elections administrator
of the county in which the applicant resides.
(i) The student or employee may request
assistance from the high school deputy registrar in filling out the
application. If the applicant cannot sign the application due to physical
disability or illiteracy, another person may witness the applicant's mark. The
witness must include an address, printed name, and signature on the
application. If an applicant is physically unable to make a mark, the witness
shall state this fact on the application.
(ii) On receipt of a registration
application, the high school deputy registrar shall review it for completeness.
The high school deputy registrar may review an application for completeness out
of the applicant's presence. If the application does not contain all the
required information and the required signature, the application shall be
returned to the applicant for completion and resubmission.
(3) Returning Voter Registration
Applications to Voter Registrar or Elections Administrator.
(A) The high school deputy registrar must
deliver the completed applications to the voter registrar or elections
administrator of the county in which the applicant resides as soon as possible
after they are received. Completed applications shall be delivered to the
county voter registrar or elections administrator by the high school deputy
registrar in person, or by mail in an envelope or package. An application must
be delivered to the county voter registrar or elections administrator no later
than 5 p.m. of the fifth day after the date the application is submitted to the
high school deputy registrar, except that an application submitted after the
34th day and before the 29th day before the date of an election in which any
qualified voters of the county are eligible to vote must be delivered no later
than 5 p.m. of the 29th day before election day. An application delivered by
mail is considered to be delivered at the time of its receipt by the county
registrar or elections administrator.
(B) Since a voter registration application
will result in an effective voter registration on the 30th day after it is
received by a high school deputy registrar, it is imperative that the high
school deputy registrar confer with the county voter registrar or elections
administrator of each county in which the students and employees of the high
school reside before instituting a voter registration program in the high
school in order to insure that the applications are received by the county in a
timely manner.
(4)
Criminal Sanctions. Inadvertent failure to deliver applications received by the
high school deputy registrar by the deadline stated above is a Class C
misdemeanor. Intentional failure to deliver applications is a Class A
misdemeanor.
(e) Miscellaneous Provisions
(1) High Schools
Serving More than One County. A high school deputy registrar shall serve as a
deputy voter registrar for each county in which territory served by the high
school is located without regard to the actual physical location of the high
school.
(2) High School Deputy
Registrar Transferring or Terminating Employment. A high school principal or
designated representative who transfers from or terminates employment with a
high school is immediately removed from the status of deputy registrar of that
high school upon such transfer or termination. Upon the transfer or termination
of a designated representative, all voter registration materials must be
returned to the high school principal. Upon a principal's transfer or
termination, all voter registration materials must be delivered to the new
principal or newly designated representative.
(3) Removal of Designated Representative. A
designated representative may be removed at any time by the high school
principal, with or without cause. If a designated representative fails to
implement this directive or otherwise fails in the performance of his or her
duties, the high school principal shall relieve the designated representative
of the role of high school deputy registrar. A removal must be in writing, and
must clearly state the grounds for removal. A copy of the removal must be
delivered to the designated representative. All voter registration materials,
including notices and applications, must be returned to the high school
principal or otherwise accounted for. The high school principal shall resume
the duties of high school deputy registrar until a new representative is
designated.
(4) Approval. Secretary
of State approval issued this 31st day of July, 1998.
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