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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of countywide voting locations by certain |
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counties. |
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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 43.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 43.009. COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACE. (a) A |
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commissioners court may provide for a voter who resides in the |
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county to vote at any precinct polling place located within the |
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county 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 secretary of state shall provide for an audit of the |
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direct recording electronic voting units of a county that operates |
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polling places under this section before and after the election, |
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and during the election to the extent such an audit is practicable. |
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(c) In order to operate polling places in the manner |
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described by this section, the commissioners court must receive |
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approval from the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall |
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approve each county that: |
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(1) 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; and |
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(2) uses direct recording electronic voting machines |
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or is otherwise determined by the secretary of state to have the |
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appropriate technological capabilities. |
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(d) Each polling place must allow a voter to vote in the same |
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elections in which the voter would be entitled to vote in the county |
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election precinct in which the voter resides. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |