| 12 | | - | SECTION 1. Sections 105.004(b), (c), (d), and (e), Election |
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| 10 | + | SECTION 1. Section 67.003(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | + | read as follows: |
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| 12 | + | (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), each local |
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| 13 | + | canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at |
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| 14 | + | the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer [For |
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| 15 | + | an election held on the uniform election date in May, the |
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| 16 | + | local canvass must occur] not later than the 11th day after |
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| 17 | + | election day and not earlier than the later of: |
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| 18 | + | (1) the third day after election day; |
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| 19 | + | (2) the date on which the early voting ballot board has |
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| 20 | + | verified and counted all provisional ballots, if a provisional |
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| 21 | + | ballot has been cast in the election; or |
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| 22 | + | (3) the date on which all timely received ballots cast |
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| 23 | + | from addresses outside of the United States are counted, if a ballot |
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| 24 | + | to be voted by mail in the election was provided to a person outside |
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| 25 | + | of the United States. |
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| 26 | + | SECTION 2. Section 101.057, Election Code, is amended to |
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| 27 | + | read as follows: |
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| 28 | + | Sec. 101.057. RETURN OF VOTED BALLOT. (a) A ballot voted |
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| 29 | + | under this subchapter may be returned to the early voting clerk by |
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| 30 | + | mail, common or contract carrier, or courier. |
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| 31 | + | (b) A ballot voted by a voter described by Section |
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| 32 | + | 101.001(2)(A) or (B) shall be counted if the ballot arrives at the |
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| 33 | + | address on the carrier envelope not later than the sixth day after |
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| 34 | + | the date of the election, except that if that date falls on a |
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| 35 | + | Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, then the |
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| 36 | + | deadline is extended to the next regular business day. |
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| 37 | + | SECTION 3. Sections 105.004(b), (c), (d), and (e), Election |
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| 13 | 38 | | Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 39 | | (b) The secretary of state shall select to participate in |
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| 15 | 40 | | the program any county [a number of counties as determined by the |
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| 16 | 41 | | secretary of state] that: |
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| 17 | 42 | | (1) desires [desire] to participate in the program; |
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| 18 | 43 | | and |
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| 19 | 44 | | (2) is [are] determined by the secretary of state to |
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| 20 | 45 | | have the appropriate technological capabilities. |
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| 21 | 46 | | (c) The secretary of state shall operate the program |
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| 22 | 47 | | established under Subsection (a) [as a pilot program] until |
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| 23 | 48 | | September 1, 2021 [2017]. |
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| 24 | 49 | | (d) Not later than January 1, 2021 [2017], the secretary of |
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| 25 | 50 | | state shall file a report with the legislature. The report may |
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| 26 | 51 | | include the secretary of state's recommendations on the future use |
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| 27 | 52 | | of e-mail ballot submission by members of the armed forces of the |
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| 28 | 53 | | United States and suggestions for permanent statutory authority |
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| 29 | 54 | | regarding e-mail ballot submission by members of the armed forces |
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| 30 | 55 | | of the United States. |
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| 31 | 56 | | (e) This section expires September 1, 2021 [2017]. |
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