S.B. No. 1116

AN ACT

relating to a county, city, or independent school district posting election notices and results on an Internet website.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 65, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 65.016 to read as follows:

Sec. 65.016. INTERNET POSTING OF ELECTION RESULTS. (a) A county that holds or provides election services for an election and maintains an Internet website shall post on its public Internet website for an election of public officials or of a governmental entity authorized by law to impose a tax administered by the county:

(1) the results of each election;

(2) the total number of votes cast;

(3) the total number of votes cast for each candidate or for or against each measure;

(4) the total number of votes cast by personal appearance on election day;

(5) the total number of votes cast by personal appearance or mail during the early voting period; and

(6) the total number of counted and uncounted provisional ballots cast.

(b) A city or independent school district that holds an election and maintains an Internet website shall post on its public Internet website for the city or independent school district, as applicable:

(1) the results of each election;

(2) the total number of votes cast;

(3) the total number of votes cast for each candidate or for or against each measure;

(4) the total number of votes cast by personal appearance on election day;

(5) the total number of votes cast by personal appearance or mail during the early voting period; and

(6) the total number of counted and uncounted provisional ballots cast.

(c) The information described by Subsections (a) and (b) must be:

(1) posted as soon as practicable after the election; and

(2) accessible without having to make more than two selections or view more than two network locations after accessing the Internet website home page of the county, city, or district, as applicable.

SECTION 2. Chapter 4, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 4.009 to read as follows:

Sec. 4.009. INTERNET POSTING. (a) Not later than the 21st day before election day, a county that holds or provides election services for an election and maintains an Internet website shall post on its public Internet website for an election of public officials or of a governmental entity authorized by law to impose a tax administered by the county:

(1) the date of the election;

(2) the location of each polling place;

(3) each candidate for an elected office on the ballot; and

(4) each measure on the ballot.

(b) Not later than the 21st day before election day, a city or independent school district that holds an election and maintains an Internet website shall post on the public Internet website for the city or independent school district, as applicable:

(1) the date of the next election;

(2) the location of each polling place;

(3) each candidate for an elected office on the ballot; and

(4) each measure on the ballot.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1116 passed the Senate on April 13, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 27, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1116 passed the House, with amendment, on May 23, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

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Date

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Governor