Bill Text: TX SB397 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the procedures for closing a polling place.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-04-27 - Referred to Elections [SB397 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB397-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Relating to the procedures for closing a polling place.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-04-27 - Referred to Elections [SB397 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB397-Comm_Sub.html
By: Hall | S.B. No. 397 | |
(In the Senate - Filed January 12, 2023; February 15, 2023, | ||
read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; | ||
April 19, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee | ||
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 3; April 19, 2023, | ||
sent to printer.) | ||
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 397 | By: Hughes |
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relating to the procedures for closing a polling place. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 33.056(c), Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(c) A watcher is entitled to inspect the returns and other | ||
records prepared by the election officers at the location at which | ||
the watcher is serving, including a tape printed under Section | ||
61.002. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 61.002, Election Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (a), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections (e) | ||
and (f) to read as follows: | ||
(a) Immediately before opening the polls for voting on the | ||
first day of early voting and on election day, the presiding | ||
election judge or alternate presiding [ |
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confirm that each voting machine has any public counter reset to | ||
zero and shall print the tape that shows the counter was set to zero | ||
for each candidate or measure on the ballot. | ||
(c) Immediately after closing the polls for voting on | ||
election day and on the last day of early voting by personal | ||
appearance, the presiding election judge or alternate presiding | ||
[ |
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cast for each candidate or ballot measure for each voting machine. | ||
(d) The presiding [ |
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presiding [ |
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under this section. | ||
(e) When closing the polls on the last day of early voting, | ||
the presiding election judge and alternate presiding judge shall | ||
place a tape printed under this section in envelope no. 2. | ||
(f) When closing the polls for voting on election day, any | ||
watcher present, but not more than three, may sign a tape printed | ||
under this section. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 61.007, Election Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: | ||
(d) A person who prints a tape under Section 61.002 does not | ||
commit an offense under this section. | ||
SECTION 4. Section 66.023, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 66.023. CONTENTS OF ENVELOPE NO. 2. Envelope no. 2 | ||
must contain: | ||
(1) a copy of the precinct returns; | ||
(2) a tally list; | ||
(3) the original of the poll list; | ||
(4) the signature roster; | ||
(5) the precinct early voting list; | ||
(6) any affidavits completed at the polling place | ||
except affidavits required to be placed in envelope no. 4; [ |
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(7) any certificates of appointment of watchers; and | ||
(8) any voting machine tape printed for the purpose of | ||
showing the number of votes cast. | ||
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
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