Texas Election Code - ELEC § 127.125. Preparing Ballots for Automatic Counting

(a) The manager of a central counting station shall have the ballots prepared for automatic counting.

(b) The manager shall have the ballots examined to detect any irregularly marked ballots and to determine whether the ballots to be counted automatically are ready for counting and can be properly counted.  The manager shall have each irregularly marked ballot duplicated to indicate the intent of the voter if the voter's intent is clearly ascertainable, unless other law prohibits counting the vote.  After making the appropriate determinations and taking the appropriate actions, the manager shall approve the ballots for counting.

(c) After the ballots are approved for counting, the manager shall deliver them to the tabulation supervisor or to the supervisor's designee.