House Bill No. 968 introduces a new chapter, Chapter 280, to the Texas Election Code, 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 an audit.

Additionally, the bill outlines the procedures for audits conducted by the Secretary of State, including the requirement for county clerks to cooperate with the audit process. If violations are found during an audit, the Secretary of State must notify the county clerk and may impose civil penalties of $500 for each unremedied violation. The bill also stipulates that penalties collected will be deposited into the state treasury. This legislation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and applies only to elections held after that date.

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