By Madden                                              H.B. No. 563
         77R3656 DRH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 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 AT PREVIOUS POLLING PLACE.  If the
 1-9     location of the polling place for an election precinct is different
1-10     from the location used for the precinct in the preceding election
1-11     ordered by the same authority, the authority responsible for giving
1-12     notice of the election shall, if possible, post notice at the
1-13     entrance to the previous polling place stating that the location
1-14     has changed and providing the location of the new polling place.
1-15           Sec. 43.062.  USE OF COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION.  In an
1-16     election in which detailed poll location information is available
1-17     at a polling place through a computer, an election officer shall
1-18     provide that information to assist voters in determining the
1-19     correct polling place location for the voter's election precinct.
1-20           SECTION 2.  Section 62.001, Election Code, is amended to read
1-21     as follows:
1-22           Sec. 62.001.  OFFICERS TO ASSEMBLE. (a)  On election day, the
1-23     presiding judge and the election clerks the judge assigns to assist
1-24     with preparing the polling place shall meet at the polling place in
 2-1     time to prepare it to receive the voters.
 2-2           (b)  If the polling place is left unattended at any time
 2-3     after the preparations for voting begin, the presiding judge shall
 2-4     take appropriate steps to provide for the security of the polling
 2-5     place.  This subsection does not affect the security requirements
 2-6     for a polling place after the polls open.
 2-7           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.