House Bill No. 968 introduces a new chapter to the Texas Election Code, specifically Chapter 280, which establishes a formal process for addressing election irregularities. The bill allows individuals who participated in an election—such as candidates, county party chairs, and election judges—to request explanations and supporting documentation from county clerks regarding actions that may violate election laws, irregularities in precinct results, or inadequacies in required documentation. County clerks are mandated to respond to these requests within specified timeframes, and if the requestor is unsatisfied with the response, they can escalate the matter to the Secretary of State for further investigation and potential audit.

Additionally, the bill outlines the consequences for county clerks who fail to remedy identified violations following an audit. If a violation is not addressed within 30 days of notification, the Secretary of State can impose a civil penalty of $500 for each unremedied violation, with further penalties accruing for each day the violation remains unresolved. The Secretary of State is also required to maintain and publish a record of clerks assessed penalties. This legislation aims to enhance accountability and transparency in the electoral process, with the provisions taking effect on September 1, 2025, and applicable only to elections held after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()