| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the numbering and signing of ballots by early voting |
|
|
clerks and deputy early voting clerks. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 85.0311, Election Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 85.0311. DEPUTY EARLY VOTING CLERK TO SIGN BALLOTS. |
|
|
(a) The deputy early voting clerk's signature or initials shall be |
|
|
placed on the back of each ballot to be used at the polling place |
|
|
where the deputy early voting clerk accepts voters voting by |
|
|
personal appearance. |
|
|
(b) The deputy early voting clerk at a polling place shall |
|
|
enter the signature or initials of the deputy early voting clerk on |
|
|
each ballot [or a deputy early voting clerk shall stamp a facsimile |
|
|
of the initials on each ballot]. |
|
|
(c) The signing of ballots under this section need not be |
|
|
completed before the polls open, but an unsigned ballot may not be |
|
|
made available for selection by a voter. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 122.001, Election Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (f), (g), and (h) to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(c) The secretary of state may prescribe additional |
|
|
standards for voting systems consistent with this title. The |
|
|
standards may apply to particular kinds of voting systems, to |
|
|
particular elements comprising a voting system, including |
|
|
operation procedures, or to voting systems generally, provided that |
|
|
the county or political subdivision providing the voting system: |
|
|
(1) can demonstrate a specific inability to comply |
|
|
with a provision of this code; and |
|
|
(2) has applied to and received written approval from |
|
|
the secretary of state for waiver from this code specifying: |
|
|
(A) the election and election date to be |
|
|
affected; and |
|
|
(B) the specific inability to comply with a |
|
|
provision of this code. |
|
|
(f) Waivers issued by the secretary of state under |
|
|
Subsection (c) must be addressed and requested separately by a |
|
|
county or political subdivision for each election. |
|
|
(g) The secretary of state shall attach the approval order |
|
|
to the approval request for each applicable election under |
|
|
Subsection (c) and retain it permanently on file. |
|
|
(h) Waivers granted under Subsection (c) must be posted on |
|
|
the Internet website of the requesting county or political |
|
|
subdivision not less than 60 days before the first day of the early |
|
|
voting period and must remain posted during the affected election. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 62.008(b), Election Code, is repealed. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |