| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
| |
|
|
relating to use of an electronic device for accepting voters; |
|
|
authorizing a fee. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 31.014 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 31.014. CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES TO ACCEPT |
|
|
VOTERS. (a) The secretary of state shall prescribe specific |
|
|
requirements and standards, consistent with this code, for the |
|
|
certification of an electronic device used to accept voters under |
|
|
Chapter 63 that require the device to: |
|
|
(1) produce an electronic copy of the list of voters |
|
|
who were accepted to vote for delivery to the election judge after |
|
|
the polls close; |
|
|
(2) display the voter's original signature in |
|
|
accordance with Section 63.002; |
|
|
(3) accept a voter for voting even when the device is |
|
|
off-line; |
|
|
(4) provide the full list of voters registered in the |
|
|
county with an indication of the jurisdictional or distinguishing |
|
|
number for each territorial unit in which each voter resides; |
|
|
(5) time-stamp when each voter is accepted at a |
|
|
polling place, including the voter's unique identifier; |
|
|
(6) if the county participates in the countywide |
|
|
polling place program under Section 43.007 or has more than one |
|
|
early voting polling place, transmit a time stamp when each voter is |
|
|
accepted, including the voter's unique identifier, to all polling |
|
|
place locations; |
|
|
(7) time-stamp the receipt of a transmission under |
|
|
Subdivision (6); and |
|
|
(8) produce in an electronic format compatible with |
|
|
the statewide voter registration list under Section 18.061 data for |
|
|
retention and transfer that includes: |
|
|
(A) the polling location in which the device was |
|
|
used; |
|
|
(B) the dated time stamp under Subdivision (5); |
|
|
and |
|
|
(C) the dated time stamp under Subdivision (7). |
|
|
(b) A device described by this section must be certified |
|
|
annually by the secretary of state. |
|
|
(c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules that require a |
|
|
device described by this section used during the early voting |
|
|
period or under the countywide polling place program under Section |
|
|
43.007 to update data in real time. If a county uses a device that |
|
|
does not comply with the rule in two consecutive general elections |
|
|
for state and county officers, the secretary of state shall assess a |
|
|
noncompliance fee. The noncompliance fee shall be set at an amount |
|
|
determined by secretary of state rule. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 63.003, Election Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
|
|
(d) The poll list may be in the form of an electronic device |
|
|
approved by the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall |
|
|
adopt rules governing the use of electronic poll lists. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 63.004, Election Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
|
|
(e) A combination form may be in the form of an electronic |
|
|
device approved by the secretary of state. The secretary of state |
|
|
shall adopt rules governing the minimum requirements and approval |
|
|
of an electronic device used for any form used in connection with |
|
|
the acceptance of voters at a polling place. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |