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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the secretary of state to order a new |
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election in certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 14, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Subtitle E to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE E. ORDER FOR NEW ELECTION BY SECRETARY OF STATE |
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CHAPTER 249. SHORTAGE OF BALLOTS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES |
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Sec. 249.001. STANDARD FOR NEW ELECTION. Notwithstanding |
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any other law, in a county with a population of 2.7 million or more, |
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the secretary of state shall order a new election if the secretary |
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has good cause to believe that at least two percent of the total |
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number of polling places in the county: |
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(1) ran out of usable ballots during voting hours; and |
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(2) did not receive supplemental ballots under Section |
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51.008 for one or more hours after making a request for supplemental |
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ballots to the authority responsible for distributing election |
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supplies. |
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Sec. 249.002. PROCEDURES FOR NEW ELECTION. In establishing |
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the procedures for a new election ordered under this chapter, the |
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secretary of state shall have the same authority granted to a |
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district court under Section 231.007. |
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Sec. 249.003. EXPENSES OF NEW ELECTION. The expenses of a |
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new election ordered by the secretary of state under this chapter |
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are paid from the same fund and by the same authority that paid the |
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expenses of the previous election. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |