Bill Text: TX SB57 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 57 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to nonpartisan election watchers.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-08-09 - Filed [SB57 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB57-Introduced.html

	87S20466 BEE-D

	By: Eckhardt, et al.	S.B. No. 57



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to nonpartisan election watchers.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 33.001, Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 33.001. WATCHER DEFINED. In this code, "watcher"
	means a person appointed under this subchapter to observe the
	conduct of an election on behalf of a candidate, a political party,
	a nonpartisan election observation organization, or the proponents
	or opponents of a measure.
	SECTION 2. Section 33.007(d), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(d) The number of watchers accepted for service on each side
	of a measure may not exceed the number authorized by this section.
	If the number of appointments exceeds the authorized number, the
	authority accepting the watchers for service shall accept the
	watchers in the order in which they present their certificates of
	appointment. A watcher appointed under Section 33.008 is not
	subject to the limitation of this subsection.
	SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 33.008 to read as follows:
	Sec. 33.008. APPOINTMENT BY NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION. (a)
	A nonpartisan election observation organization that has been
	certified by the secretary of state in accordance with this section
	may appoint watchers.
	(b) The secretary of state shall certify qualifying
	nonpartisan election observation organizations within this state.
	The secretary of state shall adopt rules establishing criteria to
	determine whether an organization may be certified. The rules must
	require the organization and its appointed nonpartisan watchers to:
	(1) be impartial in substance and process;
	(2) cooperate with election officers;
	(3) be diligent in not obstructing the process;
	(4) be independent from the government, in the
	interest of promoting the right to vote;
	(5) be transparent and accountable with regard to
	funding, including refusal to accept funding from any source or
	under any condition that may create a conflict of interest; and
	(6) be vigilant in identifying and addressing
	potential and actual conflicts of interest.
	(c) A watcher appointed under this section is not entitled
	to:
	(1) sign the seal of a ballot box under Section
	127.066; or
	(2) sign the seal of a test material container under
	Section 127.099.
	SECTION 4. Section 33.031, Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 33.031. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. (a) Except
	as provided by Subsection (b), to [To] be eligible to serve as
	a watcher, a person must be a qualified voter:
	(1) of the county in which the person is to serve, in
	an election ordered by the governor or a county authority or in a
	primary election;
	(2) of the part of the county in which the election is
	held, in an election ordered by the governor or a county authority
	that does not cover the entire county of the person's residence; and
	(3) of the political subdivision, in an election
	ordered by an authority of a political subdivision other than a
	county.
	(b) A person appointed as a watcher under Section 33.008 is
	not subject to the requirements of Subsection (a) and is eligible to
	serve as a watcher if the person:
	(1) is a registered voter in this state; and
	(2) understands and agrees to comply with the
	principles and practices set forth in the Declaration of Global
	Principles for Non-partisan Election Observation and Monitoring by
	Citizen Organizations and Code of Conduct for Non-partisan Citizen
	Election Observers and Monitors, as commemorated by the United
	Nations on April 3, 2012.
	SECTION 5. Section 213.013, Election Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:
	(d-1) In any recount, a watcher appointed under Section
	33.008 may be present.
	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
	last day of the legislative session.