By Yarbrough H.B. No. 1509
76R5669 DRH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the manual counting of electronic voting system
1-3 ballots.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 127.130(d) and (e), Election Code, are
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (d) In [Subject to Subsection (e), in] any manual count
1-8 conducted under this code, a vote on a ballot on which a voter
1-9 indicates a vote by punching a hole in the ballot may not be
1-10 counted unless:
1-11 (1) at least two corners of the chad are detached; or
1-12 (2) light is visible through the hole[;]
1-13 [(3) an indentation on the chad from the stylus or
1-14 other object is present and indicates a clearly ascertainable
1-15 intent of the voter to vote; or]
1-16 [(4) the chad reflects by other means a clearly
1-17 ascertainable intent of the voter to vote].
1-18 [(e) Subsection (d) does not supersede any clearly
1-19 ascertainable intent of the voter.]
1-20 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.