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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to permitting poll watchers to observe certain procedures |
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of correcting a defect in an early voting ballot 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 87.0271, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (c) and (e) and adding Subsections (e-1) and |
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(h) to read as follows: |
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(c) If the signature verification committee determines |
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under Subsection (b)(1) that it would not be possible for the voter |
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to correct the defect and return the carrier envelope before the |
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time the polls are required to close on election day, the committee |
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may notify the voter of the defect by telephone or e-mail and inform |
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the voter that the voter may request to have the voter's application |
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to vote by mail canceled in the manner described by Section 84.032 |
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or come to the early voting clerk's office in person not later than |
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the sixth day after election day to correct the defect, subject to |
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Subsection (h). |
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(e) A poll watcher is entitled to observe an action taken |
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under Subsection (b), [or] (c), or (h). |
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(e-1) A poll watcher who wishes to observe an action under |
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Subsection (b), (c), or (h) shall submit the watcher's name, e-mail |
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address, and phone number to the chair of the signature |
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verification committee. Not less than four hours before taking an |
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action under Subsection (b), (c), or (h), the signature |
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verification committee must provide notice by phone and e-mail to |
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each watcher who has submitted the information required by this |
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subsection, including the date, time, and place the action will be |
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taken. |
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(h) A defect in a ballot may not be corrected in person |
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unless two members of the signature verification committee |
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appointed under Section 87.027(d) are present, each being aligned |
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with a different political party, if applicable. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an election held on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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election held before the effective date of this Act is governed by |
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the law in effect when the election was held, and that law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |