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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the procedure for early voting. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.002(c), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) Immediately after closing the polls for voting on |
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election day and on the last day of early voting by personal |
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appearance, the presiding election judge or alternate election |
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judge shall print the tape to show the number of votes cast for each |
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candidate or ballot measure for each voting machine. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 85.001(a) and (c), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The period for early voting by personal appearance |
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begins on the eighth [17th] day before election day and continues |
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through the [fourth] day before election day, except as otherwise |
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provided by this section. |
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(c) If the date prescribed by Subsection (a) [or (b)] for |
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beginning the period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday, |
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the early voting period begins on the next regular business day. |
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SECTION 3. Section 85.033, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 85.033. SECURITY OF VOTING MACHINE. (a) At the close |
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of early voting each day, the early voting clerk shall secure each |
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voting machine used for early voting in the manner prescribed by the |
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secretary of state so that its unauthorized operation is prevented. |
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The clerk shall unsecure the machine before the beginning of early |
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voting the following day. |
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(b) To the extent possible, closing and securing of voting |
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machines shall be done in the same manner as required by provisions |
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of this code pertaining to election day. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 85.001(b) and (e), Election Code, are |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |