1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to certain practices and procedures involved with a
 1-3     polling place used in an election.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 43, Election Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Subchapter C to read as follows:
 1-7       SUBCHAPTER C.  INFORMATION REGARDING LOCATION OF POLLING PLACE
 1-8           Sec. 43.061.  NOTICE OF CHANGE OF LOCATION OF POLLING PLACE.
 1-9     (a)  This section applies only to a general or special election
1-10     that is ordered by the governor or the county judge.
1-11           (b)  If the location of a polling place changes after notice
1-12     of an election is given under Section 4.003, the county clerk shall
1-13     give notice of the change not later than the earlier of:
1-14                 (1)  24 hours after the location is changed; or
1-15                 (2)  24 hours before the polls open on election day.
1-16           (c)  Notice required by Subsection (b) must be given by:
1-17                 (1)  notifying each candidate whose name appears on the
1-18     ballot in the election or, in the case of an office filled by
1-19     voters of more than one county, notifying the county chair or, for
1-20     an independent candidate, the county judge of the county in which
1-21     the change occurs; or
1-22                 (2)  posting the notice in a listing used specifically
1-23     to inform the public of changes to the location of a polling place
1-24     on any Internet website that the county clerk maintains to provide
 2-1     information on elections held in the county.
 2-2           Sec. 43.062.  NOTICE AT PREVIOUS POLLING PLACE.  If the
 2-3     location of the polling place for an election precinct is different
 2-4     from the location used for the precinct in the preceding election
 2-5     ordered by the same authority, the authority responsible for giving
 2-6     notice of the election shall, if possible, post notice at the
 2-7     entrance to the previous polling place stating that the location
 2-8     has changed and providing the location of the new polling place.
 2-9           Sec. 43.063.  USE OF COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION.  In an
2-10     election in which detailed poll location information is available
2-11     at a polling place through a computer, an election officer shall
2-12     provide that information to assist voters in determining the
2-13     correct polling place location for the voter's election precinct.
2-14           SECTION 2.  Section 62.001, Election Code, is amended to read
2-15     as follows:
2-16           Sec. 62.001.  OFFICERS TO ASSEMBLE. (a)  On election day, the
2-17     presiding judge and the election clerks the judge assigns to assist
2-18     with preparing the polling place shall meet at the polling place in
2-19     time to prepare it to receive the voters.
2-20           (b)  If the polling place is left unattended at any time
2-21     after the preparations for voting begin, the presiding judge shall
2-22     take appropriate steps to provide for the security of the polling
2-23     place.  This subsection does not affect the security requirements
2-24     for a polling place after the polls open.
2-25           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 563 was passed by the House on May 8,
         2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 563 was passed by the Senate on
         May 23, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present,
         not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor