reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TX Elec COde § 33.004 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter A. Appointment|Section 33.004. Appointment for Write-in Candidate

Sec. 33.004.  APPOINTMENT FOR WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.  (a)  A group of registered voters may appoint watchers on behalf of a write-in candidate in an election in which a declaration of write-in candidacy is not required to be filed.(b)  To be eligible to participate in the appointment under this section of a watcher for a precinct polling place, a person must be a registered voter of the precinct.  To be eligible to participate in the appointment under this section of a watcher for an early voting polling place, the meeting place of an early voting ballot board, or a central counting station, a person must be a registered voter of the territory served by that facility.(c)  The minimum number of voters required to make an appointment under this section is the lesser of:(1)  15;  or(2)  five percent of the registered voters of the appropriate territory as determined from the list of registered voters to be used for the election.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.38;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1349, Sec. 16, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.|
TX Elec COde § 33.005 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter A. Appointment|Section 33.005. Appointment for Election on Measure

Sec. 33.005.  APPOINTMENT FOR ELECTION ON MEASURE.  (a)  In an election on a measure, watchers may be appointed by the campaign treasurer or an assistant campaign treasurer of a specific-purpose political committee that supports or opposes the measure.(b)  This section does not apply to a referendum measure submitted at a primary election.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.|
TX Elec COde § 33.006 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter A. Appointment|Section 33.006. Certificate of Appointment

Sec. 33.006.  CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT.  (a)  For an appointment of a watcher to be effective, the appointing authority must issue a certificate of appointment to the appointee.(b)  A certificate of appointment must:(1)  be in writing and signed by the appointing authority or, for an appointment for a write-in candidate under Section 33.004, by each of the voters making the appointment;(2)  indicate the capacity in which the appointing authority is acting;(3)  state the name, residence address, and voter registration number of the appointee and be signed by the appointee;(4)  identify the election and the precinct polling place or other location at which the appointee is to serve;(5)  in an election on a measure, identify the measure if more than one is to be voted on and state which side of the measure the appointee represents; and(6)  contain an affidavit executed by the appointee stating that the appointee will not have possession of a device capable of recording images or sound or that the appointee will disable or deactivate the device while serving as a watcher.(c)  In addition to complying with Subsection (b), a certificate issued to a watcher appointed for a write-in candidate under Section 33.004 must:(1)  include the residence address and voter registration number of eligible signers in the required number;(2)  include the signed statement of the candidate, or a person who would be authorized to make appointments on the candidate's behalf if the candidate's name appeared on the ballot, that the appointment is made with the signer's consent;  and(3)  state the residence or office address of the signer under Subdivision (2) and the capacity in which the signer signs, if the statement is not signed by the candidate.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 498, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;  Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 728, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 34, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1349, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1164 (H.B. 2817), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2011.|
TX Elec COde § 33.007 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter A. Appointment|Section 33.007. Number and Place of Service of Watchers

Sec. 33.007.  NUMBER AND PLACE OF SERVICE OF WATCHERS.  (a)  Each appointing authority may appoint not more than two watchers for each precinct polling place, meeting place for an early voting ballot board, or central counting station involved in the election.(b)  Each appointing authority may appoint not more than seven watchers for each main or branch early voting polling place involved in the election.  Not more than two watchers appointed by the same authority may be on duty at the same early voting polling place at the same time.(c)  In an election in which the election officers serving at a precinct polling place also serve as an early voting ballot board, a watcher who is appointed for the precinct polling place may observe the processing of early voting ballots by the early voting ballot board, or separate watchers may be appointed to observe only that activity.(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.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.39;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.|
TX Elec COde § 33.008 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter A. Appointment|Section 33.008. Training Program

Sec. 33.008.  TRAINING PROGRAM.  The secretary of state shall develop and maintain a training program for watchers.  The training program must:(1)  be available:(A)  entirely via the Internet; and(B)  at any time, without a requirement for prior registration; and(2)  provide a watcher who completes the training with a certificate of completion.|Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 4.04, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 33.031 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter B. Eligibility|Section 33.031. General Eligibility Requirements

Sec. 33.031.  GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.  (a)  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)  In addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), to be eligible to serve as a watcher, a person must complete training under Section 33.008.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1235 (S.B. 1970), Sec. 26(3), eff. September 1, 2009.Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 4.05, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 33.032 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter B. Eligibility|Section 33.032. Ineligibility of Candidate for Public Office

Sec. 33.032.  INELIGIBILITY OF CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.  (a)  A person is ineligible to serve as a watcher in an election if the person is a candidate for a public office in an election to be held on the same day.(b)  In this section, "candidate" means a person who has taken affirmative action, as described by the law regulating political funds and campaigns, for the purpose of gaining nomination or election.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.|
TX Elec COde § 33.033 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter B. Eligibility|Section 33.033. Ineligibility of Employee or Relative of Election Officer

Sec. 33.033.  INELIGIBILITY OF EMPLOYEE OR RELATIVE OF ELECTION OFFICER.  (a)  A person is ineligible to serve as a watcher at a particular location if the person is the employer of or is employed by or related within the second degree by consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, to an election judge, an election clerk, an early voting clerk, or a deputy clerk serving at that location.(b)  For purposes of this section, a person is employed by an election officer in the same circumstances that a person is employed by a candidate under Section 32.054(b).|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.40;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 16, eff. Aug. 26, 1991;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(27), eff. Sept. 1, 1995.|
TX Elec COde § 33.034 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter B. Eligibility|Section 33.034. Ineligibility of Public Officer

Sec. 33.034.  INELIGIBILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICER.  (a)  A person who holds an elective public office is ineligible to serve as a watcher in an election.(b)  For purposes of this section, a deputy or assistant serving under a public officer does not hold a public office.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.|
TX Elec COde § 33.035 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter B. Eligibility|Section 33.035. Ineligibility of Person Convicted of Election Offense

Sec. 33.035.  INELIGIBILITY OF PERSON CONVICTED OF ELECTION OFFENSE.  A person is ineligible to serve as a watcher in an election if the person has been finally convicted of an offense in connection with conduct directly attributable to an election.|Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1349, Sec. 18, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.|
TX Elec COde § 33.052 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.052. Hours of Service at Precinct Polling Place

Sec. 33.052.  HOURS OF SERVICE AT PRECINCT POLLING PLACE.  (a)  A watcher at a precinct polling place may begin service at any time after the presiding judge arrives at the polling place on election day and may remain at the polling place until the presiding judge and the clerks complete their duties there.  A watcher that serves for more than five continuous hours may serve at the polling place during the hours the watcher chooses, except that if the watcher is present at the polling place when ballots are counted, the watcher may not leave until the counting is complete.(b)  For purposes of this section, a watcher is considered to have served continuously if the watcher leaves the polling place for the purpose of using a wireless communication device prohibited from use in the polling place under Section 61.014 and the watcher promptly returns.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 472, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 36, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 254, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 697 (H.B. 1921), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2007.Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 27.002(2), eff. September 1, 2009.|
TX Elec COde § 33.053 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.053. Hours of Service at Early Voting Polling Place

Sec. 33.053.  HOURS OF SERVICE AT EARLY VOTING POLLING PLACE.  A watcher serving at an early voting polling place may be present at the polling place at any time it is open and until completion of the securing of any voting equipment used at the polling place that is required to be secured on the close of voting each day.  The watcher may serve during the hours the watcher chooses.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.42;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 37, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.|
TX Elec COde § 33.054 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.054. Hours of Service at Early Voting Ballot Board Meeting or Signature Verification Committee Meeting

Sec. 33.054.  HOURS OF SERVICE AT EARLY VOTING BALLOT BOARD MEETING OR SIGNATURE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING.  (a)  A watcher serving at the meeting place of an early voting ballot board or signature verification committee may be present at any time the board or committee is processing or counting ballots and until the board or committee completes its duties.  The watcher may serve during the hours the watcher chooses, except as provided by Subsection (b).(b)  A watcher serving at the meeting place of an early voting ballot board may not leave during voting hours on election day without the presiding judge's permission if the board has recorded any votes cast on voting machines or counted any ballots, unless the board has completed its duties and has been dismissed by the presiding judge.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.43;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 38, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 711 (H.B. 3107), Sec. 36, eff. September 1, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 33.055 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.055. Hours of Service at Central Counting Station

Sec. 33.055.  HOURS OF SERVICE AT CENTRAL COUNTING STATION.  (a)  A watcher serving at a central counting station may be present at any time the station is open for the purpose of processing or preparing to process election results and until the election officers complete their duties at the station.  The watcher may serve during the hours the watcher chooses, except as provided by Subsection (b).(b)  A watcher may not leave during voting hours on election day without the presiding judge's permission if the counting of ballots at the central counting station has begun.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 39, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.|
TX Elec COde § 33.056 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.056. Observing Activity Generally

Sec. 33.056.  OBSERVING ACTIVITY GENERALLY.  (a)  Except as provided by Section 33.057, a watcher is entitled to observe any activity conducted at the location at which the watcher is serving.  A watcher is entitled to sit or stand near enough to see and hear the election officers conducting the observed activity, except as otherwise prohibited by this chapter.(b)  A watcher is entitled to sit or stand near enough to the member of a counting team who is announcing the votes to verify that the ballots are read correctly or to a member who is tallying the votes to verify that they are tallied correctly.(c)  A watcher is entitled to inspect the returns and other records prepared by the election officers at the location at which the watcher is serving.(d)  A watcher may not be prohibited from making written notes while on duty.  Before permitting a watcher who made written notes at a precinct polling place to leave while the polls are open, the presiding officer may require the watcher to leave the notes with another person on duty at the polling place, selected by the watcher, for retention until the watcher returns to duty.(e)  Except as provided by Section 33.057(b), a watcher may not be denied free movement where election activity is occurring within the location at which the watcher is serving.(f)  In this code, a watcher who is entitled to "observe" an election activity is entitled to sit or stand near enough to see and hear the activity.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 4.07, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 33.057 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.057. Observing Preparation of Voter's Ballot

Sec. 33.057.  OBSERVING PREPARATION OF VOTER'S BALLOT.  (a)  A watcher is entitled to be present at the voting station when a voter is being assisted by an election officer, and the watcher is entitled to examine the ballot before it is deposited in the ballot box to determine whether it is prepared in accordance with the voter's wishes.(b)  A watcher may not be present at the voting station when a voter is preparing the voter's ballot or is being assisted by a person of the voter's choice.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 40, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.|
TX Elec COde § 33.058 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.058. Restrictions on Watcher's Activities

Sec. 33.058.  RESTRICTIONS ON WATCHER'S ACTIVITIES.  (a)  While on duty, a watcher may not:(1)  converse with an election officer regarding the election, except to call attention to an irregularity or violation of law;(2)  converse with a voter;  or(3)  communicate in any manner with a voter regarding the election.(b)  A watcher may call the attention of an election officer to any occurrence that the watcher believes to be an irregularity or violation of law and may discuss the matter with the officer.  An officer may refer the watcher to the presiding officer at any point in the discussion.  In that case, the watcher may not discuss the occurrence further with the subordinate officer unless the presiding officer invites the discussion.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.|
TX Elec COde § 33.059 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.059. Observing Securing of Voting System Equipment Before Election

Sec. 33.059.  OBSERVING SECURING OF VOTING SYSTEM EQUIPMENT BEFORE ELECTION.  (a)  A watcher appointed to serve at a polling place in an election using voting system equipment that is required to be delivered to the polling place in a secured condition is entitled to observe the inspection and securing of the equipment in the jurisdiction of the authority responsible for distributing election supplies to the polling place at which the watcher is appointed to serve.(b)  On request of a watcher, the authority responsible for distributing the election supplies shall inform the watcher of the place, date, and hour of the inspection.  A watcher shall be admitted on presentation of a certificate of appointment.  The person admitting the watcher shall return the certificate to the watcher.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.|
TX Elec COde § 33.060 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.060. Observing Delivery of Election Records

Sec. 33.060.  OBSERVING DELIVERY OF ELECTION RECORDS.  (a)  On request of a watcher, an election officer who delivers election records from a precinct polling place, an early voting polling place, a meeting place for an early voting ballot board, or a central counting station shall permit the watcher appointed to serve at that location to accompany the officer in making the delivery.(b)  If delivery is made in a vehicle, an election officer complies with this section if the officer permits the watcher to follow in a different vehicle and drives in a manner that enables the watcher to keep the vehicle in sight.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.44;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.|
TX Elec COde § 33.0605 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.0605. Observing Data Storage Sealing and Transfer

Sec. 33.0605.  OBSERVING DATA STORAGE SEALING AND TRANSFER.  (a) A watcher appointed to serve at a polling place in an election who is available at the time of the action may observe all election activities relating to closing the polling place, including the sealing and transfer of a memory card, flash drive, hard drive, data storage device, or other medium now existing or later developed used by the voting system equipment.(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a watcher duly accepted for service at a polling location is entitled to follow the transfer of election materials from the polling place at which the watcher was accepted to a regional tabulating center, the central counting station, or any other location designated to process election materials.  The authority responsible for administering a regional tabulating center or another location where election materials are processed must accept duly appointed watchers for service in the same manner a watcher is accepted for service under Section 33.051 and must accept the same number of watchers that may serve under Section 33.007(a).|Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 4.08, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 33.061 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.061. Unlawfully Obstructing Watcher

Sec. 33.061.  UNLAWFULLY OBSTRUCTING WATCHER.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person serves in an official capacity at a location at which the presence of watchers is authorized and knowingly prevents a watcher from observing an activity or procedure the person knows the watcher is entitled to observe, including by taking any action to obstruct the view of a watcher or distance the watcher from the activity or procedure to be observed in a manner that would make observation not reasonably effective.(b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.|Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 4.09, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 33.063 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 3 - Election Officers and Observers|Chapter 33 - Watchers|Subchapter C. Service|Section 33.063. Relief

Sec. 33.063.  RELIEF.  The appointing authority for a watcher who believes that the watcher was unlawfully prevented or obstructed from the performance of the watcher's duties may seek:(1)  injunctive relief under Section 273.081, including issuance of temporary orders;(2)  a writ of mandamus under Section 161.009 or 273.061; and(3)  any other remedy available under law.|Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 4.10, eff. December 2, 2021.|