By: Hall S.B. No. 26
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on the effect of a change to the period for
voting.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) The secretary of state shall conduct a
study regarding the practical effects of eliminating the gap
between the early voting period for an election and election day and
providing for the conduct of elections with a single election
period.
(b) The study must include:
(1) best practices and policies of states that conduct
elections with a single election period;
(2) a cost-benefit analysis comparing the use of hand
marked paper ballots, ballot marking devices, and direct recording
electronic voting machines in elections with a single election
period;
(3) comparison of the estimated costs of conducting
elections with a single election period versus the costs of
conducting elections with a gap between the early voting period for
the election and election day; and
(4) recommended statutory language for implementing
the conduct of elections with a single election period.
(c) The secretary of state shall, not later than January
1,2022, submit a report on the secretary's findings to the
legislature.
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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.