HB2990 - Relating to elimination of the countywide polling place program.

  89R2483 MLH-D     By: Lowe H.B. No. 2990       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to elimination of the countywide polling place program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 31.014(a) and (c), Election Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The secretary of state shall prescribe specific   requirements and standards, consistent with this code, for the   certification of an electronic device used to accept voters under   Chapter 63 that require the device to:                (1)  produce an electronic copy of the list of voters   who were accepted to vote for delivery to the election judge after   the polls close;                (2)  display the voter's original signature in   accordance with Section 63.002;                (3)  accept a voter for voting even when the device is   off-line;                (4)  provide the full list of voters registered in the   county with an indication of the jurisdictional or distinguishing   number for each territorial unit in which each voter resides;                (5)  time-stamp when each voter is accepted at a   polling place, including the voter's unique identifier;                (6)  if the county [ participates in the countywide   polling place program under Section 43.007 or ] has more than one   early voting polling place, transmit a time stamp when each voter is   accepted, including the voter's unique identifier, to all polling   place locations;                (7)  time-stamp the receipt of a transmission under   Subdivision (6); and                (8)  produce in an electronic format compatible with   the statewide voter registration list under Section 18.061 data for   retention and transfer that includes:                      (A)  the polling location in which the device was   used;                      (B)  the dated time stamp under Subdivision (5);   and                      (C)  the dated time stamp under Subdivision (7).          (c)  The secretary of state shall adopt rules that require a   device described by this section used during the early voting   period [ or under the countywide polling place program under Section   43.007 ] to update data in real time.  If a county uses a device that   does not comply with the rule in two consecutive general elections   for state and county officers, the secretary of state shall assess a   noncompliance fee.  The noncompliance fee shall be set at an amount   determined by secretary of state rule.          SECTION 2.  Section 32.0511(d), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (d)  Not more than two student election clerks may serve at a   polling place[ , except that not more than four student election   clerks may serve at any countywide polling place ].          SECTION 3.  The following provisions of the Election Code   are repealed:                (1)  Section 32.002(c-1);                (2)  Section 43.004(c);                (3)  Section 43.007; and                (4)  Section 85.062(f-1).          SECTION 4.  Nothing in this Act may be construed to impact   polling locations used for early voting by personal appearance or   prevent a voter from casting a ballot at any branch polling place in   the territory served by the early voting clerk as provided by   Section 85.066, Election Code.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.