Revision 19-4; Effective September 9, 2019

 

A local intellectual and developmental disability authority (LIDDA) must offer everyone who is 18 years of age or older the opportunity to register to vote:

• upon entry into services;
• annually; and
• when notified of a person’s change of address.

A LIDDA must provide the same degree of assistance, including bilingual assistance, to help a person complete the voter registration forms, as is provided with the completion of any Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) or LIDDA form.

LIDDA staff may not determine a person’s eligibility for voter registration other than a determination of whether the person is of voting age, which is 18 years of age, or is a U.S. citizen. A person’s age or citizenship may be verified by a LIDDA if the age or citizenship can be readily determined from information filed with HHSC or the LIDDA for purposes other than voter registration. A person must be offered voter registration assistance even if the person’s age or citizenship cannot be determined.

A LIDDA must not:

• influence a person’s political party preference;
• display any political party preference or allegiance; or
• make any statement or take any action for the purpose or effect of:
  • discouraging the person from registering to vote; or
  • leading the person to believe that a decision of whether to register has any bearing on the availability of, or eligibility for, services or benefits.

If the person has any questions regarding the voter registration process that the LIDDA cannot answer, the LIDDA must:

• advise the person to call the Office of the Texas Secretary of State toll-free at 1-800-252-8683; or
• give the person the telephone number of the local county voter registrar.

A LIDDA must follow the guidelines for voters with special needs, which may be accessed at VoteTexas.gov.

 

18100 Registering to Vote

Revision 19-4; Effective September 9, 2019

 

If a person expresses a desire to register to vote, a local intellectual and developmental disability authority (LIDDA) provides the person with:

• a blank voter registration form; and
• assistance and privacy in the completion of the registration form.

If the person wants to complete the voter registration form at the time the offer to register is made, the LIDDA must review the form for completeness in the presence of the person. If the form does not contain all the required information, including the required signature, the LIDDA staff returns it to the person for completion.

The person may choose to be responsible for mailing the form or may request the LIDDA to mail the form. If the person requests the LIDDA to mail the from, the LIDDA must mail the form within five days following completion of the form.

 

18200 Declining to Register

Revision 19-4; Effective September 9, 2019

 

If the person declines to complete a voter registration form, the local intellectual and developmental disability authority (LIDDA) will request that the person complete and sign Form 1019, Opportunity to Register to Vote/Declination. If the person refuses to sign Form 1019, the LIDDA must document the refusal on the form.

A LIDDA must maintain the completed form for 22 months and in a confidential location that is not a part of the person’s medical or clinical record.

 

18300 Ordering Voter Registration Forms

Revision 19-4; Effective September 9, 2019

LIDDA designated staff can order voter registration cards in English and Spanish through the HHS Pinnacle Cart.