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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 85.064, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) Early voting by personal appearance at each temporary |
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branch polling place established under Section 85.062(d) shall be |
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conducted on the days that voting is required to be conducted at the |
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main early voting polling place under Section 85.005 and remain |
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open for at least: |
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(1) eight hours each day; or |
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(2) three hours each day if the city or county clerk |
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does not serve as the early voting clerk for the territory holding |
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the election and the territory has fewer than 1,000 registered |
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voters. |
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(c) Early voting by personal appearance at a temporary |
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branch polling place other than a temporary branch polling place |
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established under Section 85.062(d) may be conducted on any one or |
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more days and during any hours of the period for early voting by |
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personal appearance, as determined by the authority establishing |
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the branch. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |