Sec. 276.015. VOTE HARVESTING. (a) In this section:
(1) "Benefit" means anything reasonably regarded as a gain or advantage, including a promise or offer of employment, a political favor, or an official act of discretion, whether to a person or another party whose welfare is of interest to the person.
(2) "Vote harvesting services" means in-person interaction with one or more voters, in the physical presence of an official ballot or a ballot voted by mail, intended to deliver votes for a specific candidate or measure.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person, directly or through a third party, knowingly provides or offers to provide vote harvesting services in exchange for compensation or other benefit.
(c) A person commits an offense if the person, directly or through a third party, knowingly provides or offers to provide compensation or other benefit to another person in exchange for vote harvesting services.
(d) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly collects or possesses a mail ballot or official carrier envelope in connection with vote harvesting services.
(e) This section does not apply to:
(1) an activity not performed in exchange for compensation or a benefit;
(2) interactions that do not occur in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process;
(3) interactions that do not directly involve an official ballot or ballot by mail;
(4) interactions that are not conducted in-person with a voter; or
(5) activity that is not designed to deliver votes for or against a specific candidate or measure.
(f) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree.
(g) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
(h) Records necessary to investigate an offense under this section or any other section of this code shall be provided by an election officer in an unredacted form to a law enforcement officer upon request. Records obtained under this subsection are not subject to public disclosure.
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 7.04, eff. December 2, 2021.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions
Chapter 276 - Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions
Section 276.001. Retaliation Against Voter
Section 276.003. Unlawful Removal From Ballot Box
Section 276.004. Unlawfully Prohibiting Employee From Voting
Section 276.005. Voter's Privilege From Arrest
Section 276.006. Changing Electoral Boundaries of Certain Political Subdivisions
Section 276.007. Student Election Authorized
Section 276.008. Information Provided to Texas Legislative Council
Section 276.009. Voting by Sequestered Juror
Section 276.010. Unlawful Buying and Selling of Balloting Materials
Section 276.012. Engaging in Organized Election Fraud Activity
Section 276.013. Election Fraud
Section 276.014. Other Election Offenses
Section 276.015. Vote Harvesting
Section 276.016. Unlawful Solicitation and Distribution of Application to Vote by Mail
Section 276.017. Unlawful Distribution of Early Voting Ballots and Balloting Materials
Section 276.018. Perjury in Connection With Certain Election Procedures