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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the method of returning a ballot to be voted by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 4.003, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) In addition to any other notice given for an election |
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under Subsection (a), not later than the 21st day before election |
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day, a county shall post a copy of a notice of the election given by |
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the county or provided to the county under Section 4.008(a)[, which |
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must include the location of each polling place,] on the county's |
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Internet website, if the county maintains a website. An authority |
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responsible for giving notice of an election may post a copy of the |
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notice on the bulletin board used for posting notices of the |
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meetings of the governing body of the political subdivision that |
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the authority serves. If a county does not maintain a website, the |
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authority responsible for giving notice of the election shall post |
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a copy of a notice of the election on the bulletin board used for |
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posting notices of the meetings of the governing body of the |
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political subdivision that the authority serves. For each precinct |
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that is combined to form a consolidated precinct under Section |
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42.008, not later than the 10th day before election day, the |
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authority shall also post, at the polling place used in the |
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preceding general election, notice of the precinct's consolidation |
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and the location of the polling place in the consolidated precinct. |
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A notice posted under this subsection must remain posted |
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continuously through election day. |
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(b-1) The notice given under Subsection (b) must include: |
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(1) the location of each polling place that will be |
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open on election day; |
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(2) the location of each polling place that will be |
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open for early voting; and |
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(3) each location that will be available to voters to |
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deliver a marked ballot under Section 86.006(a-3). |
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SECTION 2. Section 86.006, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (a-1) and adding Subsections (a-3) and |
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(a-4) to read as follows: |
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(a) A marked ballot voted under this chapter must be |
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returned to the early voting clerk in the official carrier |
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envelope. The carrier envelope may be delivered in another envelope |
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and must be transported and delivered only by: |
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(1) mail; |
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(2) common or contract carrier; or |
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(3) subject to Subsection [Subsections] (a-1) [and |
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(a-2)], in-person delivery by the voter who voted the ballot. |
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(a-1) The voter may deliver a marked ballot in person to the |
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early voting clerk's office or to another designated location |
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[only] while the polls are open on election day or during the early |
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voting period. A voter who delivers a marked ballot in person may |
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return only the voter's own ballot and must present an acceptable |
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form of identification described by Section 63.0101. |
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(a-3) The county clerk may designate any of the following |
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locations for delivering marked ballots under Subsection (a-1): |
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(1) the early voting clerk's office; |
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(2) any polling place open for early voting or for |
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election day; or |
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(3) any suitable location that meets criteria |
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prescribed by the secretary of state. |
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(a-4) To ensure that locations designated for delivering |
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marked ballots are accessible and secure, the secretary of state |
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shall adopt rules establishing criteria for a location that a |
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county clerk may designate under Subsection (a-3). |
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SECTION 3. Section 86.006(a-2), Election Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |