87R5846 ADM-D
By: White H.B. No. 1708
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an electronic voting system that produces a
voter-verifiable paper record.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 129, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 129.003 to read as follows:
Sec. 129.003. AUDITABLE VOTING SYSTEM. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Auditable voting system" means a voting system
that produces a voter-verifiable paper record.
(2) "Voter-verifiable paper record" means a paper
record of an electronically generated ballot that may be:
(A) reviewed and corrected by the voter at the
time the ballot is cast; and
(B) used for a recount in an election in which
electronically generated ballots were used.
(b) Beginning September 1, 2021, an authority of a political
subdivision may not purchase a voting system consisting of direct
recording electronic voting machines that is not an auditable
voting system.
(c) Beginning September 1, 2023, a voting system consisting
of direct recording electronic voting machines may not be used in an
election unless the system is an auditable voting system.
SECTION 2. 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, 2021.