By: Elkins (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 2190
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 2011;
May 12, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on State
Affairs; May 20, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 20, 2011, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the deadlines by which provisional ballots must be
processed and the state canvass must be conducted for certain
elections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 65.051, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for an election held
on the date of the general election for state and county officers,
the early voting ballot board shall verify and count provisional
ballots as provided by this subchapter not later than the 13th day
after the date of the election.
SECTION 2. Section 65.052, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 65.052. DUTY OF VOTER REGISTRAR. The secretary of
state shall prescribe procedures by which the voter registrar of
the county in which a provisional ballot is cast shall provide
assistance to the early voting ballot board in executing its
authority under this subchapter. In an election described by
Section 65.051(a-1), the procedures must allow for seven calendar
days for the voter registrar to review a provisional voter's
eligibility.
SECTION 3. Section 67.003, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c), each local
canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at
the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer not
earlier than the eighth day or later than the 11th day after
election day.
(c) In an election described by Section 65.051(a-1), the
time for the local canvass may be set not later than the 14th day
after election day.
SECTION 4. Section 67.012(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The governor shall conduct the state canvass [not
earlier than the 15th or later than the 30th day after election day]
at the time set by the secretary of state:
(1) not earlier than the 15th or later than the 30th
day after election day; or
(2) for an election described by Section 65.051(a-1),
not earlier than the 18th or later than the 33rd day after election
day.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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