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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to voting system ballots. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 124.062, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) Each electronic system ballot must contain a serial |
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number that must be printed before insertion in a ballot marking |
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device, if any. The secretary of state may not waive this |
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requirement. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 124, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 124.067 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 124.067. APPROVAL OF BALLOT PRINTERS FOR ELECTRONIC |
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VOTING SYSTEM BALLOTS. (a) The secretary of state shall approve |
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printers of paper ballots for use with specific electronic voting |
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systems. |
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(b) In addition to the requirements of Section 51.013, each |
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person who prints ballots for use with electronic voting systems |
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shall submit satisfactory evidence to the secretary of state that |
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ballots printed by them are accurately read and tabulated by all |
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electronic voting systems for which approval is sought under |
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Subsection (a). |
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(c) The secretary of state may revoke approval for a printer |
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of paper ballots for use with a specific electronic voting system on |
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sufficient evidence of that printer's inability to produce paper |
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ballots that are consistently read accurately by the specific |
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electronic voting system. |
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(d) An authority responsible for procuring election |
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supplies may not use a printer and electronic voting system |
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combination that is not approved by the secretary of state. |
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(e) The attorney general may obtain injunctive relief to |
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enforce this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 125.004, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) After installation of the voting system equipment at the |
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polling place, a report shall be run on each voting machine to |
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demonstrate that no votes are recorded on the equipment. The |
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secretary of state may not waive this requirement after September |
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1, 2022. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 125, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 125.0621 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 125.0621. LOGS OF ISSUED AND SPOILED BALLOTS. If an |
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electronic voting system uses paper media for recording votes cast, |
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the election officer shall maintain a record of the serial numbers |
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of all ballots issued at that polling place and the serial numbers |
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of any spoiled ballots, if any. |
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SECTION 5. Section 125.063, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 125.063. SECURING EQUIPMENT ON CLOSE OF VOTING. (a) |
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On the close of voting at each polling place at which electronic |
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voting system equipment is used, an election officer shall secure |
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or inactivate the equipment as prescribed by the secretary of state |
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so that its unauthorized operation is prevented. |
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(b) An election officer must generate a paper record of the |
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number of votes cast for each candidate or measure when using |
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electronic voting system equipment that does not generate a |
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voter-verified paper ballot record, except during early voting. |
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The secretary of state may not waive this requirement after |
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September 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |