88R11207 MPF-D
 
  By: Creighton S.B. No. 2393
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the time for delivery and acceptance by the early voting
  ballot board of early voting ballots voted by mail.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 87.0222, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 87.0222.  TIME OF DELIVERY: BALLOTS VOTED BY MAIL. (a)  
  Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), not later than the seventh
  day before election day [Notwithstanding Section 87.024, in an
  election conducted by an authority of a county with a population of
  100,000 or more, or conducted jointly with such a county or
  conducted with such a county through a contract for election
  services], the jacket envelopes containing [the] early voting
  ballots voted by mail shall [may] be delivered to the board [between
  the end of the ninth day before the last day of the period for early
  voting by personal appearance and the closing of the polls on
  election day, or as soon after closing as practicable, at the time
  or times specified by the presiding judge of the board].
         (a-1)  Any jacket envelopes of early voting ballots voted by
  mail returned after delivery of the ballots under Subsection (a)
  may be delivered to the presiding judge of the early voting ballot
  board between the end of the seventh day before election day and the
  closing of the polls on election day, or as soon after closing as
  practicable, at the time or times specified by the presiding judge.
         (b)  The early voting clerk shall post notice of each
  delivery of balloting materials under this section that is to be
  made before the time for opening the polls on election day.  The
  notice shall be posted at the main early voting polling place
  continuously for at least 24 hours immediately preceding the
  delivery.
         (c)  At least 24 hours before each delivery made before the
  time for opening the polls on election day, the early voting clerk
  shall notify the county chair of each political party having a
  nominee on the ballot of the time the delivery is to be made.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 87.0241(a) and (c), Election Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The early voting ballot board shall make its
  determination [may determine] whether to accept early voting
  ballots voted by mail in accordance with Section 87.041 [at any
  time] after the ballots are delivered to the board.
         (c)  The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures
  necessary for implementing this section [in regard to elections
  described by Subsection (b)(2)].
         SECTION 3.  Section 87.0241(b), Election Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.