| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the procedures for closing a polling place. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 61.002, Election Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsections (a), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections (e) |
|
|
and (f) to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) Immediately before opening the polls for voting on the |
|
|
first day of early voting and on election day, the presiding |
|
|
election judge or alternate presiding [election] judge shall |
|
|
confirm that each voting machine has any public counter reset to |
|
|
zero and shall print the tape that shows the counter was set to zero |
|
|
for each candidate or measure on the ballot. |
|
|
(c) Immediately after closing the polls for voting on |
|
|
election day and on the last day of early voting by personal |
|
|
appearance, the presiding election judge or alternate presiding |
|
|
[election] judge shall print the tape to show the number of votes |
|
|
cast for each candidate or ballot measure for each voting machine. |
|
|
(d) The presiding [Each] election judge and [or] alternate |
|
|
presiding [election] judge [present] shall sign a tape printed |
|
|
under this section. |
|
|
(e) When closing the polls on the last day of early voting, |
|
|
the presiding election judge and alternate presiding judge shall |
|
|
place a tape printed under this section in envelope no. 2. |
|
|
(f) When closing the polls for voting on election day, any |
|
|
watcher present, but not more than three, may sign a tape printed |
|
|
under this section. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 61.007, Election Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
|
|
(d) A person who prints a tape under Section 61.002 does not |
|
|
commit an offense under this section. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 66.023, Election Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 66.023. CONTENTS OF ENVELOPE NO. 2. Envelope no. 2 |
|
|
must contain: |
|
|
(1) a copy of the precinct returns; |
|
|
(2) a tally list; |
|
|
(3) the original of the poll list; |
|
|
(4) the signature roster; |
|
|
(5) the precinct early voting list; |
|
|
(6) any affidavits completed at the polling place |
|
|
except affidavits required to be placed in envelope no. 4; [and] |
|
|
(7) any certificates of appointment of watchers; and |
|
|
(8) any voting machine tape printed for the purpose of |
|
|
showing the number of votes cast. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |