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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the public inspection of election records. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1.012, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (d), and (e) and adding Subsections (f) |
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and (g) to read as follows: |
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(a) An [Subject to Subsection (b), an] election record that |
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is public information shall be made available to the public during |
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the regular business hours of the record's custodian not later than |
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10 days after the date the custodian receives a request for public |
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inspection. |
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(d) In this code, "election record" includes: |
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(1) anything created, distributed, or received by |
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government under this code; |
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(2) anything required by law to be kept by others for |
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information of government under this code; or |
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(3) a certificate, application, notice, report, or |
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other document or paper issued, created, or received by government |
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under this code. |
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(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f), an [An] election |
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record shall be available not later than the 15th day after election |
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day in an electronic format for a fee of not more than $50. |
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(f) Not later than the 60th day after election day, the |
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general custodian of election records shall make available for |
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public inspection election records that are: |
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(1) original voted ballots; or |
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(2) images of voted ballots, if a county maintains |
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images of voted ballots. |
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(g) The custodian shall adopt procedures to ensure the |
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redaction of any personally identifiable information of the voter |
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contained on a ballot before making the voted ballot available for |
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public inspection. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1.012(b), Election Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |