Bill > HB1005

This bill modifies the Texas Election Code by changing the language around election canvassing from permissive to mandatory. Specifically, the bill alters Section 67.004(d) to replace the word "may" with "shall" when describing the canvassing authority's responsibility to compare precinct returns with the corresponding tally list. This means that election officials will now be required, rather than simply allowed, to compare vote totals between returns and tally lists. If a discrepancy is discovered between the vote totals, the presiding judge of the precinct must examine the returns and tally list and make necessary corrections to the returns. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, giving election officials time to prepare for this new mandatory process. By changing "may" to "shall," the bill aims to strengthen the election verification process by ensuring a more rigorous comparison of voting records.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1005