Bill Text: TX SB420 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the secretary of state to order a new election in certain counties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-21 - Filed [SB420 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB420-Introduced.html

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89R635 MPF-D
By: Middleton S.B. No. 420

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of the secretary of state to order a new
election in certain counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 14, Election Code, is amended by adding
Subtitle E to read as follows:
SUBTITLE E. ORDER FOR NEW ELECTION BY SECRETARY OF STATE
CHAPTER 249. SHORTAGE OF BALLOTS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES
Sec. 249.001. STANDARD FOR NEW ELECTION. Notwithstanding
any other law, in a county with a population of 2.7 million or more,
the secretary of state shall order a new election if the secretary
has good cause to believe that at least two percent of the total
number of polling places in the county:
(1) ran out of usable ballots during voting hours; and
(2) did not receive supplemental ballots under Section
51.008 for one or more hours after making a request for supplemental
ballots to the authority responsible for distributing election
supplies.
Sec. 249.002. PROCEDURES FOR NEW ELECTION. In establishing
the procedures for a new election ordered under this chapter, the
secretary of state shall have the same authority granted to a
district court under Section 231.007.
Sec. 249.003. EXPENSES OF NEW ELECTION. The expenses of a
new election ordered by the secretary of state under this chapter
are paid from the same fund and by the same authority that paid the
expenses of the previous election.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.