82R7235 DRH-D
 
  By: Darby H.B. No. 3497
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the inclusion in the results of an election of ballots
  that were mistakenly not counted.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 67, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Section 67.0045 to read as follows:
         Sec. 67.0045.  DISCOVERY OF ADDITIONAL BALLOTS AFTER LOCAL
  CANVASS. (a) If, before the 10th day after the date the local
  canvass is conducted, the general custodian of election records
  discovers legal ballots that were not counted and included in the
  local canvass of the election, the custodian shall notify the
  presiding officer of the local canvassing authority of the
  discovery.
         (b)  A presiding officer who is notified under Subsection (a)
  shall make an application to a district court of the county in which
  the canvassing authority is located for disposition of the ballots.
  The presiding officer shall provide notice to each entity that held
  an election for which the discovered ballots would affect the
  results.
         (c)  Not later than the third day after the date an
  application is made under Subsection (b), the district court shall
  hold a hearing on the application. The district court shall provide
  notice of the time of the hearing to the presiding officer of the
  local canvassing authority and each entity required to be notified
  under Subsection (b).
         (d)  Following the hearing, the court shall take any
  necessary action to include legal ballots that were not counted in
  the results of the election, including a revision of the totals of
  the final canvass. Action taken under this subsection does not
  affect the ability of a person to bring an election contest or
  request a recount, except that a petition for recount must be filed
  not later than the second day after the date the court enters an
  order under this subsection.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.