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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to elimination of the countywide polling place program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 31.014(a) and (c), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The secretary of state shall prescribe specific |
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requirements and standards, consistent with this code, for the |
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certification of an electronic device used to accept voters under |
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Chapter 63 that require the device to: |
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(1) produce an electronic copy of the list of voters |
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who were accepted to vote for delivery to the election judge after |
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the polls close; |
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(2) display the voter's original signature in |
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accordance with Section 63.002; |
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(3) accept a voter for voting even when the device is |
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off-line; |
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(4) provide the full list of voters registered in the |
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county with an indication of the jurisdictional or distinguishing |
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number for each territorial unit in which each voter resides; |
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(5) time-stamp when each voter is accepted at a |
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polling place, including the voter's unique identifier; |
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(6) if the county [participates in the countywide |
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polling place program under Section 43.007 or] has more than one |
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early voting polling place, transmit a time stamp when each voter is |
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accepted, including the voter's unique identifier, to all polling |
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place locations; |
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(7) time-stamp the receipt of a transmission under |
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Subdivision (6); and |
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(8) produce in an electronic format compatible with |
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the statewide voter registration list under Section 18.061 data for |
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retention and transfer that includes: |
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(A) the polling location in which the device was |
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used; |
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(B) the dated time stamp under Subdivision (5); |
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and |
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(C) the dated time stamp under Subdivision (7). |
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(c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules that require a |
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device described by this section used during the early voting |
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period [or under the countywide polling place program under Section |
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43.007] to update data in real time. If a county uses a device that |
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does not comply with the rule in two consecutive general elections |
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for state and county officers, the secretary of state shall assess a |
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noncompliance fee. The noncompliance fee shall be set at an amount |
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determined by secretary of state rule. |
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SECTION 2. Section 32.0511(d), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) Not more than two student election clerks may serve at a |
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polling place[, except that not more than four student election |
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clerks may serve at any countywide polling place]. |
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SECTION 3. The following provisions of the Election Code |
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are repealed: |
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(1) Section 32.002(c-1); |
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(2) Section 43.004(c); |
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(3) Section 43.007; and |
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(4) Section 85.062(f-1). |
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SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act may be construed to impact |
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polling locations used for early voting by personal appearance or |
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prevent a voter from casting a ballot at any branch polling place in |
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the territory served by the early voting clerk as provided by |
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Section 85.066, Election Code. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |