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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to temporary branch polling places. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 85.062(e), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(e) In an election covered by Subsection (d), a temporary |
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branch polling place that is [located in a] movable [structure] may |
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be established only with the approval of the county clerk. If a |
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movable temporary branch polling place is established [in a movable |
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structure] on the request of a political party, each other |
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political party whose nominee for governor in the most recent |
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gubernatorial general election received more than 10 percent of the |
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total number of votes received by all candidates for governor in the |
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election is entitled to establishment of such a polling place. The |
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election officers serving a polling place covered by this |
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subsection must be affiliated or aligned with different political |
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parties to the extent possible. The secretary of state, after |
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consulting the state chair of each affected political party, shall |
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prescribe the procedures necessary to implement this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Section 85.065, Election Code, as effective |
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September 1, 2021, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 85.065. DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING: TEMPORARY BRANCHES |
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[BRANCH IN LESS POPULOUS COUNTY]. (a) Voting [This section applies |
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only to an election in which the territory served by the early |
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voting clerk is situated in a county with a population under |
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100,000. In an election in which the territory served by the clerk |
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is situated in more than one county, this section applies if the sum |
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of the populations of the counties is under 100,000. |
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[(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), voting] at a |
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temporary branch polling place may be conducted on any days and |
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during any hours of the period for early voting by personal |
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appearance, as determined by the authority establishing the branch. |
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The authority authorized under Section 85.006 to order early voting |
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on a Saturday or Sunday may also order, in the manner prescribed by |
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that section, early voting to be conducted on a Saturday or Sunday |
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at any one or more of the temporary branch polling places. |
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(b) [(c) Voting at a temporary branch polling place must be |
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conducted on at least two consecutive business days and for at least |
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eight consecutive hours on each of those days. |
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[(d)] The schedules for conducting voting are not required to |
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be uniform among the temporary branch polling places. |
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SECTION 3. Section 85.068(a), Election Code, as effective |
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September 1, 2021, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The early voting clerk shall post notice for each |
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election stating any dates and the hours that voting on Saturday or |
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Sunday will be conducted under Section 85.065(a) [85.064(d) or |
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85.065(b)], if the early voting clerk is a county clerk or city |
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secretary under Section 83.002 or 83.005. |
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SECTION 4. Section 85.064, Election Code, as effective |
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September 1, 2021, is repealed. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |