| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the tabulation and reporting of votes, including |
|
|
certain technological requirements for ballots. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 52.061, Election Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) A ballot must contain a watermark. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 65, Election Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 65.017 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 65.017. VERIFICATION OF VOTE TOTALS. (a) After |
|
|
precinct returns have been prepared under Section 65.014, each |
|
|
county shall print and compare the returns to ensure the number of |
|
|
votes cast in each precinct in the county matches the total number |
|
|
of votes cast in the county. |
|
|
(b) After the comparison in Subsection (a) is completed, the |
|
|
secretary of state shall print and compare the returns to ensure the |
|
|
number of votes cast in each county matches the total number of |
|
|
votes cast in the state. |
|
|
(c) If the comparison in Subsection (a) results in a |
|
|
disparity between the vote counts, an automatic recount under |
|
|
Chapter 216 must be conducted in the precinct for the election in |
|
|
which the disparity is identified. The recount shall be a manual |
|
|
recount by hand of paper records in accordance with Subchapter A, |
|
|
Chapter 214. |
|
|
(d) If the comparison in Subsection (b) results in a |
|
|
disparity between the vote counts, an automatic recount under |
|
|
Chapter 216 must be conducted in the county for the election in |
|
|
which the disparity is identified. The recount shall be a manual |
|
|
recount by hand of paper records in accordance with Subchapter A, |
|
|
Chapter 214. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Chapter 279, Election Code, is amended by adding |
|
|
Section 279.004 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 279.004. TRANSMISSION BETWEEN SECRETARY OF STATE AND |
|
|
COUNTY ELECTION OFFICERS. (a) In this section, "asymmetric |
|
|
cryptography" means a system of cryptography that employs a pair of |
|
|
keys, one known to county election officers, the other only known to |
|
|
the secretary of state, to encrypt and decrypt the transmission of |
|
|
election data. |
|
|
(b) Any transmission of election data that occurs between |
|
|
the secretary of state and a county election officer must be done on |
|
|
a device that is not capable of being connected to the Internet or |
|
|
another computer network or electronic device through: |
|
|
(1) a secure virtual private network; or |
|
|
(2) a landline link that employs asymmetric |
|
|
cryptography. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
|
|
last day of the legislative session. |