H.B. No. 1414




AN ACT

relating to the acceptance and counting of certain ballots voted by 
mail.   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 86.007(d), Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	(d)  A marked ballot voted by mail that arrives after the 
time prescribed by Subsection (a) shall be counted if:
		(1)  the ballot was cast from an address outside the 
United States;         
		(2)  the carrier envelope was placed for delivery 
before the time the ballot is required to arrive under Subsection 
(a); and
		(3)  the ballot arrives at the address on the carrier 
envelope not later than the fifth day after the date of the 
election, except that if that date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or 
legal state or national holiday, then the deadline is extended to 
the next regular business day.
	SECTION 2.  Section 87.125, Election Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  If the date prescribed by Subsection (a) for convening 
the early voting ballot board is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state 
or national holiday, the early voting ballot board shall convene on 
the next regular business day.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 1414 was passed by the House on May 
13, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.B. No. 1414 was passed by the Senate on May 
25, 2005, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Secretary of the Senate    



APPROVED:  _____________________                                            
 
                   Date                                                      




 
          _____________________                                          
 
                 Governor