By: Hughes S.B. No. 1661

(In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2023; March 16, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; April 6, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 0; April 6, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1661 By: Hughes

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a ballot scan system used in a central counting station.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 127.1301(b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) An authority operating a central counting station under this chapter may only [not] purchase or use a [centrally counted optical] ballot scan system if the system is only capable of using [that uses] a data transfer media device that:

(1) [storage disc on which information,] once a cast vote record is written, is incapable [capable] of being modified without automatic:

(A) detection of the modification; and

(B) rejection of the cast vote record; and

(2) does not allow for the process under Subdivision (1) to be overridden or circumvented.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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