SB 2816
bill updating the hand count that checks voting machines
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the partial count of electronic voting system ballots.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
County officials hand-count a sample of electronic results.
The bill updates the rule that requires county election officials to hand-count a sample of electronic voting results to check the machines. Counties that use countywide polling places must sample at least one percent of those locations, or three, whichever is greater, chosen at random, with the count starting within 72 hours after polls close and finishing within 21 days after election day. Notice of the count's date, time and place must now be posted on the county's website home page instead of in the custodian's office.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2816 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the partial count of electronic voting system ballots.
WHAT IT DOES
County officials hand-count a sample of electronic results.
The bill updates the rule that requires county election officials to hand-count a sample of electronic voting results to check the machines. Counties that use countywide polling places must sample at least one percent of those locations, or three, whichever is greater, chosen at random, with the count starting within 72 hours after polls close and finishing within 21 days after election day. Notice of the count's date, time and place must now be posted on the county's website home page instead of in the custodian's office.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Donors report through Friends of Paul Bettencourt.
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Mar 14, 2025
04/07/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 3709 by DeAyala (identical)
Subjects
Elections--Election Officers
Elections--General
Elections--Voting Systems
Electronic Information Systems
SECRETARY OF STATE
Text
The text as introduced · 393 words
89R10871 JDK-F By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2816 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the partial count of electronic voting system ballots. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 127.201, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a) To ensure the accuracy of the tabulation of electronic voting system results, the general custodian of election records shall conduct a manual count of all the races in : (1) at least one percent of the election precincts or in three precincts, whichever is greater, in which the electronic voting system was used ; or (2) at least one percent of polling places participating in the countywide polling place program under Section 43.007 or in three countywide polling places, whichever is greater, in which the electronic voting system was used on election day and during early voting by personal appearance . (a-1) The custodian shall select the precincts or countywide polling places for a manual count under Subsection (a) at random and shall begin the count not later than 72 hours after the polls close. The count shall be completed not later than the 21st day after election day. Subsection (b) supersedes this subsection to the extent of a conflict. (b) In a general election for state and county officers, primary election, or election on a proposed amendment to the state constitution or other statewide measure submitted by the legislature, the secretary of state shall select, in accordance with rules adopted by the secretary, the precincts or countywide polling places to be counted under Subsection (a). The secretary shall designate not more than three offices and not more than three propositions to be counted in the selected precincts or countywide polling places . The secretary shall notify the general custodian of election records of the precincts or countywide polling places , offices, and propositions selected under this subsection not earlier than the day after election day. (c) On selection or notification, as applicable, of the precincts or countywide polling places to be counted, the general custodian of election records shall post on the county's Internet website home page [ in the custodian's office ] a notice of the date, hour, and place of the count. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.