| |
| |
|
|
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. |