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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a program allowing for countywide voting locations in |
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certain elections. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 43, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 43.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 43.007. COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACE PROGRAM. (a) The |
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secretary of state shall implement a program to use countywide |
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polling places for each general election for state and county |
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officers in addition to the polling place located in each county |
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election precinct. |
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(b) The commissioners court of a county that desires to |
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participate in the program authorized by this section shall hold a |
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public hearing on the county's participation in the program. The |
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commissioners court shall submit a transcript or electronic |
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recording of the public comments made at the hearing to the |
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secretary of state. |
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(c) In conducting the program, the secretary of state shall |
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provide for an audit of the direct recording electronic voting |
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units before and after the election, and during the election to the |
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extent such an audit is practicable. |
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(d) The secretary of state shall select to participate in |
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the program each county that: |
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(1) has held a public hearing under Subsection (b); |
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(2) has implemented a computerized voter registration |
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list that allows an election officer at the polling place to verify |
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that a voter has not previously voted in the election; |
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(3) uses direct recording electronic voting machines; |
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and |
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(4) is determined by the secretary of state to have the |
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appropriate technological capabilities. |
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(e) The secretary of state may select a county to |
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participate in the program that has previously participated in a |
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similar program. |
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(f) A county that participates in a program under this |
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section shall establish countywide polling places: |
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(1) at locations in central business districts; |
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(2) at the location of the main early voting polling |
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place; |
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(3) at the location of a permanent branch polling |
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place established under Section 85.061; |
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(4) at the location of a temporary branch polling |
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place established under Section 85.062; and |
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(5) outside a central business district, based on |
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geography and population to promote even distribution outside |
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central business districts. |
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(g) In selecting locations under Subsection (f), a county |
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shall ensure that more countywide polling places are located in |
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central business districts than in other areas of similar size. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |