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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the process of canvassing elections. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 67.004(d) and (f), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) The canvassing authority shall [may] compare the |
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precinct returns with the corresponding tally list. If a |
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discrepancy is discovered between the vote totals shown on the |
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returns and those shown on the tally list for a precinct, the |
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presiding judge of the precinct shall examine the returns and tally |
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list and make the necessary corrections on the returns. |
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(f) On completion of the canvass, the presiding officer of |
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the canvassing authority shall deliver the precinct returns, tally |
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lists, and early voting precinct report used in the canvass to the |
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general custodian of election records. The presiding officer of |
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the canvassing authority shall verify that the precinct returns are |
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accurately reflected in the county returns prepared by the |
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custodian. The custodian shall preserve the records delivered |
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under this subsection [them] for the period for preserving the |
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precinct election records. |
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SECTION 2. Section 67.007, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (d-1), (d-2), and (d-3) to read as follows: |
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(d-1) The county clerk may not deliver the county returns to |
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the secretary of state under this section before each canvassing |
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authority has verified that the county returns accurately reflect |
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the precinct returns under Section 67.004(f). |
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(d-2) The secretary of state shall post the county returns |
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on the secretary of state's Internet website, organized by |
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precinct. Not later than 24 hours after the secretary of state posts |
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the county returns, the county clerk shall verify that the county |
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returns on the secretary of state's Internet website accurately |
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reflect the precinct returns delivered to the county clerk. |
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(d-3) The secretary of state shall compare the county |
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returns with the corresponding local election register. If a |
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discrepancy is discovered between the vote totals shown on the |
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returns and those shown on the register, the secretary of state |
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shall examine the returns and register and make the necessary |
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corrections on the returns. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |