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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of recording devices and mobile telephones by |
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poll watchers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 33.006(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A certificate of appointment must: |
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(1) be in writing and signed by the appointing |
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authority or, for an appointment for a write-in candidate under |
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Section 33.004, by each of the voters making the appointment; |
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(2) indicate the capacity in which the appointing |
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authority is acting; |
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(3) state the name, residence address, and voter |
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registration number of the appointee and be signed by the |
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appointee; |
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(4) identify the election and the precinct polling |
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place or other location at which the appointee is to serve; and |
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(5) in an election on a measure, identify the measure |
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if more than one is to be voted on and state which side of the |
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measure the appointee represents[; and
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[(6)
contain an affidavit executed by the appointee
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stating that the appointee will not have possession of any
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mechanical or electronic means of recording images or sound while
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serving as a watcher]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.014(d), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) This section does not apply to: |
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(1) an election officer in conducting the officer's |
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official duties; |
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(2) the use of election equipment necessary for the |
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conduct of the election; [or] |
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(3) a person who is employed at the location in which a |
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polling place is located while the person is acting in the course of |
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the person's employment; or |
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(4) a poll watcher who, in a manner that does not |
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disrupt proceedings at or near the voting station and for the |
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purpose of reporting an irregularity or violation of law relating |
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to the election, is contacting the authority holding the election, |
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the secretary of state, the attorney general, or a law enforcement |
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officer. |
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SECTION 3. Section 33.051(c), Election Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |