1. (a) The order of names on the ballot will be set by drawing. All nominated candidates or their representatives are entitled to be present at the drawing. The time and location of the drawing will be set by the system.

2. (b) All candidates must submit within the time frame established by the system any information requested by the system for presentation on the ballot. Such information may include, but is not limited to:

   1. (1) name as it is to appear on the ballot;
   2. (2) current classification/exempt title and position as a state employee;
   3. (3) name of current employing state agency; and
   4. (4) other information the system determines may be helpful to persons qualified to vote in the election.
3. (c) In addition to the information required in subsection (b) of this section, the candidate shall provide, within the time frame provided by the system, his or her state agency mailing address, a statement of qualifications and position on system issues consisting of 250 words or less, and such additional information as the system may request. This information, in addition to that which will appear on an election ballot, will be made available to the electorate through a special system newsletter devoted to the trustee election process. This special edition of the newsletter will be made available to the electorate at the beginning of each election and will describe restrictions on the use of state funds to influence the outcome of any election.
4. (d) The system may contract with an election administrator to implement and monitor the election process. Balloting may be conducted electronically or in combination with a printed ballot.
5. (e) The system/election administrator will, at least 25 days in advance of the close of each election established by the election calendar, make ballots available to eligible voters. Upon request of the candidate, the system/election administrator will provide 500 ballots without preprinted names to each candidate.
6. (f) The system/election administrator will provide a 24-hour toll-free telephone line which eligible voters may use to request a printed ballot.
7. (g) Electronic ballots must be completed and submitted to the system/election administrator in accordance with the instructions contained in the electronic voting format.
8. (h) Each candidate may designate one (1) person to observe the ballot counting process. No observer will be permitted to see complete ballots which indicate the identity of a voter and voter's candidate selection. No observer will be permitted to challenge the validity of ballots or disrupt the counting process in any way.
9. (i) The system/election administrator will disqualify ballots which do not meet the requirements and instructions specified in the electronic format or printed on the ballot.
10. (j) The board or the board's designee shall certify election results. If only one candidate is eligible to be presented on the ballot, the board or the board's designee may certify the candidate without an election.

Source Note:The provisions of this §63.4 adopted to be effective April 26, 1983, 8 TexReg 1217; amended to be effective November 28, 1990, 15 TexReg 6499; amended to be effective September 29, 1992, 17 TexReg 6373; amended to be effective November 9, 1994, 19 TexReg 8616; amended to be effective November 11, 1996, 21 TexReg 10765; amended to be effective November 15, 1998, 23 TexReg 11404; amended to be effective September 18, 2002, 27 TexReg 8773; amended to be effective January 5, 2005, 29 TexReg 12234; amended to be effective December 7, 2008, 33 TexReg 10047; amended to be effective March 14, 2016, 41 TexReg 1859; amended to be effective December 28, 2020, 45 TexReg 9573; amended tobe effective June 16, 2021, 46 TexReg 3615.