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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the timely return of a ballot by mail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 86.007(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a marked ballot |
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voted by mail must arrive at the address on the carrier envelope: |
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(1) before the time the polls are required to close on |
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election day; or |
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(2) not later than 12 a.m. [5 p.m.] on the day after |
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election day, if the carrier envelope was placed for delivery by |
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mail or common or contract carrier before election day and bears a |
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cancellation mark of a common or contract carrier or a courier |
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indicating a time not later than 7 p.m. at the location of the |
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election on election day. |
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SECTION 2. Section 87.022, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 87.022. TIME OF DELIVERY: GENERAL RULE. Except as |
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provided by Section 87.0221, 87.0222, 87.023, or 87.024, the |
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materials shall be delivered to the early voting ballot board under |
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this subchapter during the time the polls are open on election day, |
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or by 12 a.m. on the day after election day [as soon after the polls |
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close as practicable, at the time or times specified by the |
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presiding judge of the board]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 87.0222(a-1), Election Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Any jacket envelopes of early voting ballots voted by |
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mail returned after delivery of the ballots under Subsection (a) |
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may be delivered to the presiding judge of the early voting ballot |
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board between the end of the ninth day before election day and 12 |
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a.m. on the day after election day [the closing of the polls on |
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election day, or as soon after closing as practicable, at the time |
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or times specified by the presiding judge]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 87.023(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) In an election in which early voting ballots are to be |
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counted by automatic tabulating equipment at a central counting |
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station, the ballots voted by mail to be automatically counted may |
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be delivered to the board between the end of the period for early |
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voting by personal appearance and 12 a.m. on the day after the |
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election [the closing of the polls on election day, or as soon after |
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closing as practicable, at intervals specified by the presiding |
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judge of the board]. |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an |
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election ordered after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |