By Madden H.B. No. 2024
74R5124 DRH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to procedures for electing a precinct or county chairman
1-3 of a political party.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 171.022, Election Code, is amended by
1-6 amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
1-7 follows:
1-8 (b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), if <If> no
1-9 candidate receives a majority of the votes, a runoff to determine
1-10 the office is conducted in the same manner as a runoff primary
1-11 election to determine a nomination for public office. The
1-12 candidates to be in a runoff are determined in the same manner as
1-13 candidates in a runoff for a nomination.
1-14 (d) The state executive committee by rule may provide for
1-15 the election of the county chairman or precinct chairmen of a
1-16 particular county by plurality vote.
1-17 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 171, Election Code, is
1-18 amended by adding Section 171.0221 to read as follows:
1-19 Sec. 171.0221. ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE BY WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.
1-20 To be entitled to assume the office of county or precinct chairman,
1-21 a write-in candidate who receives the vote required for election
1-22 must file a written declaration of acceptance of the office with
1-23 the county executive committee not later than the third day after
1-24 the date of the local canvass.
2-1 SECTION 3. Sections 172.090(a) and (c), Election Code, are
2-2 amended to read as follows:
2-3 (a) A <In a primary election in which election precincts are
2-4 consolidated, the county executive committee may provide by
2-5 resolution, order, or other official action for voting in a
2-6 consolidated precinct by> separate paper ballot shall be used for
2-7 voting for the office of precinct chairman.
2-8 (c) The secretary of state shall prescribe:
2-9 (1) the form of the ballot for precinct chairman
2-10 consistent with this section; and
2-11 (2) procedures requiring the political party to
2-12 implement the use of a separate ballot under this section.
2-13 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
2-14 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.