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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the procedure for duplicating ballots for automatic |
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counting. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 87.102, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The authority adopting an electronic voting system in |
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which ballots are counted at a central counting station may direct |
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by resolution, order, or other official action that the early |
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voting regular paper ballots cast in an election be duplicated as |
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electronic system ballots for automatic counting at the central |
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counting station. |
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(b) Early voting ballots that are to be duplicated under |
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this section shall be delivered to the central counting station as |
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prescribed by Section 87.101 and shall be treated in the same manner |
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as damaged electronic system ballots that are duplicated for |
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automatic counting. |
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(c) If an electronic system ballot is damaged to the extent |
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it cannot be automatically counted, the ballot may be duplicated so |
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it can be automatically counted. |
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(d) A procedure other than duplication may not be used to |
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process a ballot subject to this section unless the procedure is |
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expressly authorized by the secretary of state. |
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(e) Each duplicate ballot must be clearly labeled |
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"Duplicate" and must bear the serial number of the original ballot. |
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(f) The duplicate shall be substituted for the original |
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ballot in the ballots prepared for automatic counting. The |
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original shall be preserved with the other voted ballots for the |
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same period. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |