By: Middleton, et al.	S.B. No. 1993

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the authority of the secretary of state to order a new
	election in certain counties.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Title 14, Election Code, is amended by adding
	Subtitle E to read as follows:
	SUBTITLE E. ORDER FOR NEW ELECTION BY SECRETARY OF STATE
	CHAPTER 249. SHORTAGE OF BALLOTS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES
	Sec. 249.001.  STANDARD FOR NEW ELECTION. Notwithstanding
	any other law, in a county with a population of 2.7 million or more,
	the secretary of state shall order a new election if the secretary
	has good cause to believe that at least two percent of the total
	number of polling places in the county:
	(1)  ran out of usable ballots during voting hours; and
	(2)  did not receive supplemental ballots under Section
	51.008 for one or more hours after making a request for supplemental
	ballots to the authority responsible for distributing election
	supplies.
	Sec. 249.002.  PROCEDURES FOR NEW ELECTION. In establishing
	the procedures for a new election ordered under this chapter, the
	secretary of state shall have the same authority granted to a
	district court under Section 231.007.
	Sec. 249.003.  EXPENSES OF NEW ELECTION. The expenses of a
	new election ordered by the secretary of state under this chapter
	are paid from the same fund and by the same authority that paid the
	expenses of the previous election.
	SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
	an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()
Senate Committee Report: ()
Engrossed: ()