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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 allow each |
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commissioners court participating in the program to eliminate |
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county election precincts and establish countywide polling places |
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for: |
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(1) each general election for state and county |
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officers; |
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(2) each countywide election held on the uniform |
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election date in May; and |
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(3) each election of a political subdivision located |
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in the county that is held jointly with an election described by |
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Subdivision (1) or (2). |
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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. A county that has previously participated in a |
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similar program and held a public hearing on the county's |
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participation in that program is not required to hold a hearing |
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under this subsection. |
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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) Each countywide polling place must allow a voter to vote |
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in the same elections in which the voter would be entitled to vote |
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in the county election precinct in which the voter resides. |
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(f) In selecting countywide polling places, a county must |
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adopt a methodology for determining where each polling place will |
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be located. The total number of countywide polling places may not |
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be less than 50 percent of the number of precinct polling places |
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that would otherwise be located in the county. |
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(g) 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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(h) The secretary of state shall operate the program |
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established under Subsection (a) as a pilot program until June 1, |
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2009. |
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(i) At the conclusion of the pilot program established under |
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Subsection (a), but not later than January 1, 2009, the secretary of |
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state shall file a report with the legislature. The report may |
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include the secretary of state's recommendations on the future use |
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of countywide polling places and suggestions for permanent |
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statutory authority regarding countywide polling places. |
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(j) This section expires June 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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