| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to voting by voters unable to enter a polling place. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 64.009, Election Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: |
|
|
(e) The secretary of state shall adopt rules and procedures |
|
|
to implement this section as follows: |
|
|
(1) to inform and educate the public and provide |
|
|
training for election officers regarding the availability of voting |
|
|
under this section, eligibility requirements for voting under this |
|
|
section, and the law regarding voting under this section; |
|
|
(2) to develop recommended procedures for a voter who |
|
|
is eligible to vote under this section to notify an election officer |
|
|
of the need for assistance, including requiring an election officer |
|
|
to check outside the polling place at least once every 15 minutes |
|
|
for an eligible voter; |
|
|
(3) to require the posting of signs outside of a |
|
|
polling place that indicate voting under this section is available, |
|
|
where eligible voters should wait, and how an eligible voter should |
|
|
notify an election officer of the need for assistance; and |
|
|
(4) to require county election officials to develop a |
|
|
procedure for ensuring a voter who is eligible to vote under this |
|
|
section is provided the opportunity to vote in the same order as if |
|
|
the voter were voting inside the polling place. |
|
|
(f) The secretary of state may withhold all or part of any |
|
|
funds administered and distributed by the secretary of state, |
|
|
including funds distributed under Chapter 19 or Section 31.009, |
|
|
from a political subdivision that operates a polling place that |
|
|
violates the requirements established under this section. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |