Relating to the timely return of a ballot by mail.

89(R) HB 3632 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R6580 LRM-D

By: Hayes

H.B. No. 3632

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the timely return of a ballot by mail.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 86.007(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a marked ballot

voted by mail must arrive at the address on the carrier envelope:

(1) before the time the polls are required to close on

election day; or

(2) not later than
12 a.m.
[
5 p.m.
] on the day after

election day, if the carrier envelope was placed for delivery by

mail or common or contract carrier before election day and bears a

cancellation mark of a common or contract carrier or a courier

indicating a time not later than 7 p.m. at the location of the

election on election day.

SECTION 2. Section 87.022, Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 87.022. TIME OF DELIVERY: GENERAL RULE. Except as

provided by Section 87.0221, 87.0222, 87.023, or 87.024, the

materials shall be delivered to the early voting ballot board under

this subchapter during the time the polls are open on election day,

or
by 12 a.m. on the day after election day
[
as soon after the polls

close as practicable, at the time or times specified by the

presiding judge of the board
].

SECTION 3. Section 87.0222(a-1), Election Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a-1) Any jacket envelopes of early voting ballots voted by

mail returned after delivery of the ballots under Subsection (a)

may be delivered to the presiding judge of the early voting ballot

board between the end of the ninth day before election day and
12

a.m. on the day after election day
[
the closing of the polls on

election day, or as soon after closing as practicable, at the time

or times specified by the presiding judge
].

SECTION 4. Section 87.023(a), Election Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) In an election in which early voting ballots are to be

counted by automatic tabulating equipment at a central counting

station, the ballots voted by mail to be automatically counted may

be delivered to the board between the end of the period for early

voting by personal appearance and
12 a.m. on the day after the

election
[
the closing of the polls on election day, or as soon after

closing as practicable, at intervals specified by the presiding

judge of the board
].

SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an

election ordered after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.