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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the number of poll watchers who may be appointed and who |
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may serve at a particular location during an election. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 33.007, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Each appointing authority may appoint not more than one |
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watcher [two watchers] for each precinct polling place, meeting |
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place for an early voting ballot board, or central counting station |
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involved in the election. |
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(b) Each appointing authority may appoint not more than |
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seven watchers for each main or branch early voting polling place |
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involved in the election. Multiple [Not more than two] watchers |
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appointed by the same authority may not be on duty at the same early |
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voting polling place at the same time. |
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(e) Not more than three watchers from all appointing |
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authorities combined may serve at the same time at a precinct |
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polling place, main or branch early voting polling place, meeting |
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place for an early voting ballot board, or central counting station |
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involved in an election. Except as provided by Subsection (f), of |
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the three watchers at any location: |
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(1) one must be appointed by the political party, or by |
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a candidate affiliated with the political party, that received the |
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greatest number of votes in the most recent gubernatorial election; |
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and |
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(2) one must be appointed by a political party, or by a |
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candidate affiliated with a political party, that received the |
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second-greatest number of votes in the most recent gubernatorial |
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election. |
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(f) If a watcher described by Subsection (e)(1) or (2) has |
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not reported for service at a precinct polling place, main or branch |
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early voting polling place, meeting place for an early voting |
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ballot board, or central counting station involved in an election, |
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another watcher may serve instead until: |
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(1) a watcher described by Subsection (e)(1) or (2) |
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reports for service; and |
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(2) the total number of watchers who have reported for |
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service at that location is greater than three. |
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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, 2013. |