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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the effect of a change to the period for |
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voting. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The secretary of state shall conduct a |
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study regarding the practical effects of eliminating the gap |
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between the early voting period for an election and election day and |
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providing for the conduct of elections with a single election |
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period. |
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(b) The study must include: |
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(1) best practices and policies of states that conduct |
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elections with a single election period; |
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(2) a cost-benefit analysis comparing the use of hand |
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marked paper ballots, ballot marking devices, and direct recording |
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electronic voting machines in elections with a single election |
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period; |
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(3) comparison of the estimated costs of conducting |
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elections with a single election period versus the costs of |
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conducting elections with a gap between the early voting period for |
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the election and election day; and |
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(4) recommended statutory language for implementing |
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the conduct of elections with a single election period. |
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(c) The secretary of state shall, not later than January |
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1,2022, submit a report on the secretary's findings to the |
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legislature. |
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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 on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |