HB3632 - Relating to the timely return of a ballot by mail.

  89R6580 LRM-D     By: Hayes H.B. No. 3632       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the timely return of a ballot by mail.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 86.007(a), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), a marked ballot   voted by mail must arrive at the address on the carrier envelope:                (1)  before the time the polls are required to close on   election day; or                (2)  not later than 12 a.m. [ 5 p.m. ] on the day after   election day, if the carrier envelope was placed for delivery by   mail or common or contract carrier before election day and bears a   cancellation mark of a common or contract carrier or a courier   indicating a time not later than 7 p.m. at the location of the   election on election day.          SECTION 2.  Section 87.022, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 87.022.  TIME OF DELIVERY:  GENERAL RULE. Except as   provided by Section 87.0221, 87.0222, 87.023, or 87.024, the   materials shall be delivered to the early voting ballot board under   this subchapter during the time the polls are open on election day,   or by 12 a.m. on the day after election day [ as soon after the polls   close as practicable, at the time or times specified by the   presiding judge of the board ].          SECTION 3.  Section 87.0222(a-1), Election Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a-1)  Any jacket envelopes of early voting ballots voted by   mail returned after delivery of the ballots under Subsection (a)   may be delivered to the presiding judge of the early voting ballot   board between the end of the ninth day before election day and 12   a.m. on the day after election day [ the closing of the polls on   election day, or as soon after closing as practicable, at the time   or times specified by the presiding judge ].          SECTION 4.  Section 87.023(a), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  In an election in which early voting ballots are to be   counted by automatic tabulating equipment at a central counting   station, the ballots voted by mail to be automatically counted may   be delivered to the board between the end of the period for early   voting by personal appearance and 12 a.m. on the day after the   election [ the closing of the polls on election day, or as soon after   closing as practicable, at intervals specified by the presiding   judge of the board ].          SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act apply to an   election ordered after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.