| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
| |
|
|
relating to elimination of the countywide polling place program. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Sections 31.014(a) and (c), Election Code, are |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The secretary of state shall prescribe specific |
|
|
requirements and standards, consistent with this code, for the |
|
|
certification of an electronic device used to accept voters under |
|
|
Chapter 63 that require the device to: |
|
|
(1) produce an electronic copy of the list of voters |
|
|
who were accepted to vote for delivery to the election judge after |
|
|
the polls close; |
|
|
(2) display the voter's original signature in |
|
|
accordance with Section 63.002; |
|
|
(3) accept a voter for voting even when the device is |
|
|
off-line; |
|
|
(4) provide the full list of voters registered in the |
|
|
county with an indication of the jurisdictional or distinguishing |
|
|
number for each territorial unit in which each voter resides; |
|
|
(5) time-stamp when each voter is accepted at a |
|
|
polling place, including the voter's unique identifier; |
|
|
(6) if the county [participates in the countywide |
|
|
polling place program under Section 43.007 or] has more than one |
|
|
early voting polling place, transmit a time stamp when each voter is |
|
|
accepted, including the voter's unique identifier, to all polling |
|
|
place locations; |
|
|
(7) time-stamp the receipt of a transmission under |
|
|
Subdivision (6); and |
|
|
(8) produce in an electronic format compatible with |
|
|
the statewide voter registration list under Section 18.061 data for |
|
|
retention and transfer that includes: |
|
|
(A) the polling location in which the device was |
|
|
used; |
|
|
(B) the dated time stamp under Subdivision (5); |
|
|
and |
|
|
(C) the dated time stamp under Subdivision (7). |
|
|
(c) The secretary of state shall adopt rules that require a |
|
|
device described by this section used during the early voting |
|
|
period [or under the countywide polling place program under Section |
|
|
43.007] to update data in real time. If a county uses a device that |
|
|
does not comply with the rule in two consecutive general elections |
|
|
for state and county officers, the secretary of state shall assess a |
|
|
noncompliance fee. The noncompliance fee shall be set at an amount |
|
|
determined by secretary of state rule. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 32.0511(d), Election Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(d) Not more than two student election clerks may serve at a |
|
|
polling place[, except that not more than four student election |
|
|
clerks may serve at any countywide polling place]. |
|
|
SECTION 3. The following provisions of the Election Code |
|
|
are repealed: |
|
|
(1) Section 32.002(c-1); |
|
|
(2) Section 43.004(c); |
|
|
(3) Section 43.007; and |
|
|
(4) Section 85.062(f-1). |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |