H.B. No. 929
AN ACT
relating to the time for returning ballots mailed by certain
federal postcard applicants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 67.003(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), each local
canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at
the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer [For
an election held on the uniform election date in May, the
local canvass must occur] not later than the 11th day after
election day and not earlier than the later of:
(1) the third day after election day;
(2) the date on which the early voting ballot board has
verified and counted all provisional ballots, if a provisional
ballot has been cast in the election; or
(3) the date on which all timely received ballots cast
from addresses outside of the United States are counted, if a ballot
to be voted by mail in the election was provided to a person outside
of the United States.
SECTION 2. Section 101.057, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 101.057. RETURN OF VOTED BALLOT. (a) A ballot voted
under this subchapter may be returned to the early voting clerk by
mail, common or contract carrier, or courier.
(b) A ballot voted by a voter described by Section
101.001(2)(A) or (B) shall be counted if the ballot arrives at the
address on the carrier envelope not later than the sixth day after
the date of the election, except that if that date falls on a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, then the
deadline is extended to the next regular business day.
SECTION 3. Section 67.003(a), Election Code, is repealed.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 929 was passed by the House on May 11,
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 7, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 929 on May 27, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 6, 2
present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 929 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor