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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to voting procedures for certain federal postcard |
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applicants and military personnel serving overseas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 67.003(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), each local |
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canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at |
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the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer [For
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an election held on the uniform election date in May, the
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local
canvass must occur] not later than the 11th day after |
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election day and not earlier than the later of: |
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(1) the third day after election day; |
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(2) the date on which the early voting ballot board has |
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verified and counted all provisional ballots, if a provisional |
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ballot has been cast in the election; or |
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(3) the date on which all timely received ballots cast |
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from addresses outside of the United States are counted, if a ballot |
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to be voted by mail in the election was provided to a person outside |
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of the United States. |
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SECTION 2. Section 101.057, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 101.057. RETURN OF VOTED BALLOT. (a) A ballot voted |
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under this subchapter may be returned to the early voting clerk by |
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mail, common or contract carrier, or courier. |
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(b) A ballot voted by a voter described by Section |
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101.001(2)(A) or (B) shall be counted if the ballot arrives at the |
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address on the carrier envelope not later than the sixth day after |
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the date of the election, except that if that date falls on a |
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Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, then the |
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deadline is extended to the next regular business day. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 105.004(b), (c), (d), and (e), Election |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The secretary of state shall select to participate in |
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the program any county [a number of counties as determined by the
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secretary of state] that: |
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(1) desires [desire] to participate in the program; |
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and |
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(2) is [are] determined by the secretary of state to |
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have the appropriate technological capabilities. |
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(c) The secretary of state shall operate the program |
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established under Subsection (a) [as a pilot program] until |
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September 1, 2021 [2017]. |
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(d) Not later than January 1, 2021 [2017], 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 e-mail ballot submission by members of the armed forces of the |
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United States and suggestions for permanent statutory authority |
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regarding e-mail ballot submission by members of the armed forces |
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of the United States. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2021 [2017]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 67.003(a), Election |
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Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2017. |