87R10743 SLB-D
By: Schofield H.B. No. 3247
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the alteration of voting standards, practices, or
procedures.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Election Code, is amended by adding
Section 1.022 to read as follows:
Sec. 1.022. ALTERATION OF VOTING STANDARDS, PRACTICES, OR
PROCEDURES. (a) An election official of a political subdivision
seeking to alter, in response to a pandemic disaster, any voting
standard, practice, or procedure in a manner not otherwise
expressly authorized by this code, must first obtain approval of
the proposed alteration from the secretary of state by submitting a
written request for approval to the secretary of state.
(b) The secretary of state by written order may approve a
proposed alteration requested under Subsection (a). An election
official of a political subdivision may not alter any voting
standard, practice, or procedure in a manner not otherwise
expressly authorized by this code without a written order of
approval from the secretary of state.
(c) The secretary of state may not approve a request under
Subsection (a) or (b) unless a condition directly caused by the
disaster which is the subject of a disaster declaration under
Chapter 418, Government Code, or another law authorizing the
declaration of a disaster, has made the conduct of the election
infeasible in the absence of the alteration.
(d) In the absence of the governor's disaster declaration,
an election official of a political subdivision may not alter any
voting standard, practice, or procedure in a manner not otherwise
expressly authorized by this code.
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.