84R6113 ATP-D
By: Watson S.B. No. 535
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of certain mobile devices at a polling place.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 61.014(a), (b), and (c), Election Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) A person may not use a wireless communication device
within 50 [100] feet of a voting station. If voting stations are
located in a separate room from the area in which voters wait to
vote or are accepted for voting, a person may not use a wireless
communication device in the room in which voting stations are
located and may use the device in any other area.
(b) A person may not use any mechanical or electronic means
to record or capture [of recording] images or sound within 100 feet
of a voting station.
(c) The presiding judge may require a person who violates
this section to turn off the device [or to leave the polling place].
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 62.0111, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 62.0111. NOTICE OF USE [PROHIBITION] OF CERTAIN
DEVICES.
SECTION 3. Section 62.0111(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) At the discretion of the presiding judge, notice of the
[prohibition of the] use of certain devices under Section 61.014
may be posted at one or more locations in the polling place where it
can be read by persons waiting to vote.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.