81R6745 JRJ-D
By: Ortiz, Jr. H.B. No. 2561
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a program allowing for countywide voting locations in
certain elections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 43, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 43.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 43.007. COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACE PROGRAM. (a) The
secretary of state shall implement a program to use countywide
polling places for each election held in the county in addition to
the polling place located in each county election precinct.
(b) The commissioners court of a county that desires to
participate in the program authorized by this section shall hold a
public hearing on the county's participation in the program. The
commissioners court shall submit a transcript or electronic
recording of the public comments made at the hearing to the
secretary of state. A county that has previously participated in a
similar program and held a public hearing on the county's
participation in that program is not required to hold a hearing
under this subsection.
(c) In conducting the program, the secretary of state shall
provide for an audit of the direct recording electronic voting
units before and after the election, and during the election to the
extent such an audit is practicable.
(d) The secretary of state shall select to participate in
the program each county that:
(1) has held a public hearing under Subsection (b);
(2) has implemented a computerized voter registration
list that allows an election officer at the polling place to verify
that a voter has not previously voted in the election;
(3) uses direct recording electronic voting machines;
and
(4) is determined by the secretary of state to have the
appropriate technological capabilities.
(e) Each countywide polling place must allow a voter to vote
in the same elections in which the voter would be entitled to vote
in the county election precinct in which the voter resides.
(f) In selecting countywide polling places, a county must
adopt a methodology for determining where each polling place will
be located.
(g) The secretary of state may select a county to
participate in the program that has previously participated in a
similar program.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.