(a) After approval of a registration application, the registrar shall:
(1) prepare a voter registration certificate and issue the original certificate to the applicant; and
(2) enter the applicant’s county election precinct number and registration number on the applicant’s registration application.
(b) In this code, “initial certificate” means a registration certificate issued under this section.

(c) An initial certificate takes effect on the effective date of the registration and expires the following January 1 of an even-numbered year.