Bill Text: TX HB1128 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: Relating to persons permitted to be in a polling place or a place where ballots are being counted.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-09 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB1128 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB1128-Enrolled.html

---

H.B. No. 1128

AN ACT
relating to persons permitted to be in a polling place or a place
where ballots are being counted.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.001, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) Except as permitted by this code and as described by
Subsection (a-1), a person may not be in the polling place from the
time the presiding judge arrives there on election day to make the
preliminary arrangements until the precinct returns have been
certified and the election records have been assembled for
distribution following the election.
(a-1) Under this code, a person may be lawfully present in a
polling place during the time described by Subsection (a) if the
person is:
(1) an election judge or clerk;
(2) a watcher;
(3) the secretary of state;
(4) a staff member of the Elections Division of the
Office of the Secretary of State performing an official duty in
accordance with this code;
(5) an election official, a sheriff, or a staff member
of an election official or sheriff delivering election supplies;
(6) a state inspector;
(7) a person admitted to vote;
(8) a child under 18 years of age who is accompanying a
parent who has been admitted to vote;
(9) a person providing assistance to a voter under
Section 61.032 or 64.032;
(10) a person accompanying a voter who has a
disability;
(11) a special peace officer appointed by the
presiding judge under Section 32.075;
(12) the county chair of a political party conducting
a primary election, as authorized by Section 172.1113;
(13) a voting system technician, as authorized by
Section 125.010;
(14) the county election officer, as defined by
Section 31.091, as necessary to perform tasks related to the
administration of the election; or
(15) a person whose presence has been authorized by
the presiding judge in accordance with this code.
SECTION 2. Section 87.026, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 87.026. BYSTANDERS EXCLUDED. (a) Except as permitted
by this code and as described by Subsection (b), a person may not be
in the meeting place of an early voting ballot board during the time
of the board's operations.
(b) Under this code, a person may be lawfully present in the
meeting place of an early voting ballot board during the time of the
board's operations if the person is:
(1) a presiding judge or member of the board;
(2) a watcher;
(3) a state inspector;
(4) a voting system technician, as authorized by
Section 125.010;
(5) the county election officer, as defined by Section
31.091, as necessary to perform tasks related to the administration
of the election; or
(6) a person whose presence has been authorized by the
presiding judge in accordance with this code.
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 127, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 127.008 to read as follows:
Sec. 127.008. BYSTANDERS EXCLUDED. (a) Except as permitted
by this code and as described by Subsection (b), a person may not be
in a central counting station while ballots are being counted.
(b) Under this code, a person may be lawfully present in the
central counting station while ballots are being counted if the
person is:
(1) a counting station manager, tabulation
supervisor, assistant to the tabulation supervisor, presiding
judge, or clerk;
(2) a watcher;
(3) a state inspector;
(4) a voting system technician, as authorized by
Section 125.010;
(5) the county election officer, as defined by Section
31.091, as necessary to perform tasks related to the administration
of the election; or
(6) a person whose presence has been authorized by the
counting station manager in accordance with this code.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1128 was passed by the House on May 5,
2021, by the following vote: Yeas 98, Nays 45, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1128 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor