MAD C.S.H.B. 331 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS
ELECTIONS
C.S.H.B. 331
By: Danburg; Jones, Jesse; Madden; Ehrhardt
4-15-97
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND
Addressing problems and inconsistencies concerning the Election
Code is beneficial for all Texans. Providing updated processes and
procedures gives greater assurances of accuracy and increased speed
throughout the election process. To this end, C.S.H.B. 331 was crafted to
include ideas that most can agree enjoy wide support from election
administrators, clerks, the secretary of state, and political parties.
Greater accuracy of the voter rolls, less chances for election
fraud and less costly elections will provide Texas with the necessary
electoral process to meet the challenges of future elections in the state,
thus instilling pride and comfort of security in the minds of all Texans
who feel the vote of a community should reflect the values of that
community.
Currently, the accuracy of the vote is in question because of
various election offenses and outdated voting systems: Voter fraud is
easily perpetrated because election officers are not allowed to request
proof of identification; Election officials are not prohibited from
serving in that capacity despite having been convicted of an election
offense; Write-in candidates currently are not allowed to appoint poll
watchers; A person who has been convicted of an election offense can still
serve as a poll watcher.
The Election Code does not allow for the use of a modem to transmit
the results of an election from a precinct polling place or regional
tabulation center to a central counting station. This increases the
difficulty of getting the votes counted quickly without interference.
Also, polling places need balanced political representation in
their presiding and alternate election judges. Election officials should
wear a name tag and a badge stating their electoral position to increase
voter confidence. At least one representative from each political party,
which conducts a primary in a county, should be on the Early Voting Ballot
Board convened for the general, general primary, or runoff primary
election.
Voter confidence would be increased if the voter rolls were more
accurate and correctly depicted the population living in the precinct.
Methods of informing prospective voters of deficiencies in their
registration application form should be established. The Secretary of
State should make the forms easier to read, thereby decreasing data entry
errors.
To be eligible to vote an early voting ballot by mail, the eligible
individual makes an application to vote an early voting ballot by mail. To
ensure confidentiality, the counting of early voting ballots should not be
reported from polling locations where there are fewer than five ballots.
The method of the recount process should be examined to determine the most
accurate way to determine the correct tallies. During previous legislative
sessions, the Legislature imposed a requirement to recount electronic
voting system ballots manually to verify the system's accuracy. This can
be done in a more timely manner by determining select races or ballot
propositions to target for a recount. Currently in the code, there is no
cut-off period for ending the manual recount process, so technically it
could go on forever. Also, voter confidence in the candidates would
increase if candidates using nicknames on the ballot had to clear a higher
hurdle in order to use that moniker. This would protect the voters from
gimmicky or marketing directed campaigns.
Finally, Texans should find a way to cooperate and reduce the
considerable cost of elections. Holding primary or precinct conventions of
more than one party in the same building, unified primaries, would allow
for the unification of locations and lessen staff and overall costs
associated with primary elections. Additionally, less costly measures to
resolve ties in elections should be considered. The expense of a run-off
election for a county and/or precinct chairman race is hard to justify if
another method of settling the contest can be implemented. In some cases,
an undeclared write-in candidate (for either precinct or county chairman)
that technically is the top vote getter may not wish to accept the
position for various reasons, yet presently there is no method for them to
decline if they so choose.
PURPOSE
The purpose of H.B. 331 is to amend various parts of the Election Code,
encompassing noncontroversial issues, to provide for more efficient
operation of elections, such as: provisions on storage of voter
registration information, tabulation, recounts, presiding judges,
pollwatchers and other issues.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the Committee's opinion that C.S.H.B. 331 expressly grants
rulemaking authority to the Secretary of State in SECTION 51 (Section
172.126, Election Code) and SECTION 52 (Section 173.011, Election Code).
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. (Secretary of State clarification Amendment) Amends Section
2.002, Election Code, by amending subsections (a) and (g) and adding
subsection (h) that a tying candidate in an election requiring a plurality
vote may resolve a tie by filing with the authority described in
subsection (f) a written statement of withdrawal signed and acknowledged
by the candidate. Upon receipt of the withdrawal statement the remaining
candidate is the winner, and a second election or casting of lots is not
held.
SECTION 2. (Secretary of State clarification Amendment) Amends Section
2.028, Election Code, by amending subsection (a) to read as a tying
candidate in a runoff election may resolve the tie by filing with the
presiding officer of the final canvassing authority. Upon receipt of the
withdrawal statement, the remaining candidate is the winner and a casting
of lots is not held.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 2.051, Election Code, by adding Subsection (b)
exceptions to Subsection (a) in the case of an election in which any
members of the political subdivision's governing body are elected from
single-member districts, Subsection (b) would apply to the election in a
particular single-member district if: 1) each candidate whose name is to
appear on the ballot in that district is unopposed; and 2) the
requirements prescribed by Subsection (a) are otherwise met.
SECTION 4. (HB 1966- Madden) Amends Section 13.072 (c)(e), Election Code,
by adding subsection (e) to establish a procedure for notifying a
prospective voter of deficiencies in their registration application form
and indicating a grace period during which missing information may yet be
forwarded to the voter registrar which will insure processing of their
application.
SECTION 5. (Secretary of State clarification Amendment) Amends Section
13.143, Election Code, by amending subsection (e) to state: if the 30th
day before the election is a Saturday, Sunday or other national holiday,
an application is considered timely if it is submitted to the registrar on
or before the next regular business day.
SECTION 6. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 31.002 (a), Election Code, to
require the design and content of all election related forms prescribed by
the secretary of state to enhance the ability of a person to understand
the requirements and furnish the required information in the space
provided on the forms.
SECTION 7. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 31.100 (d), Election Code, by
changing from 5% to 10% the maximum amount that can be assessed against
the election services contract by the county election officer for general
supervision of an election and adding language that the minimum fee cannot
be less than $75.00.
SECTION 8. (Original HB 331/HB 916- Jones) Amends Sections 32.002,
Election Code, by amending Subsections (c) and (d), as follows:
(c) Sets forth the requirements for appointing persons as county precinct
presiding judges and alternates. Requires presiding and alternate
presiding judges be affiliated or aligned with different political
parties. Requires county chair of a political party whose candidate for
governor received the highest or second highest number of votes in the
county in the most recent gubernatorial general election to submit in
writing a list of names of preferred persons for each precinct who are
eligible to be appointed election judge to the commissioners court. The
commissioners court shall appoint the first person meeting the
requirements from the list submitted by the party with the highest number
of votes in the precinct as the presiding judge and the first person
meeting the requirements from the list submitted by the party with the
second highest number of votes in the precinct as the alternate presiding
judge. If a list is not submitted in compliance with this subsection, the
commissioners court shall appoint an eligible person who is affiliated or
aligned with the appropriate party, if available, from any of the
registered voters in that precinct.
(d)Sets forth requirements for filling vacancies of unexpired terms of
county precinct presiding judges and alternates. Requires the county
chair of the same political party with which the original judge was
affiliated or aligned to submit the name of an eligible person to the
commissioners court for the appointment. Requires the commissioners court
to appoint the person listed if name is submitted in compliance with this
subsection to the unexpired term. If a name is not submitted in
compliance with this subsection, the commissioners court shall appoint an
eligible person who is affiliated or aligned with the same party, if
available, from any of the registered voters in that precinct.
SECTION 9. (Original HB 331/HB 916- Jones) Amends Section 32.007, Election
Code, by amending Subsections (a)-(b) to make conforming changes and
adding Subsection (f) to provides that a person who is appointed as a
replacement for a judge originally appointed under the previous section
must be affiliated or aligned with the same political party as was the
original judge, if possible.
SECTION 10. (Subcommittee amendment) Amends Section 32.051, Subsection
(a), by adding Section 32.0511 as an exception to eligibility
requirements of a person to serve as a judge of an election precinct.
SECTION 11. (Subcommittee amendment ) Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 32,
Election Code, by adding Section 32.0511, relating to eligibility
requirements for county election judges, setting fourth certain criteria.
Requires a person to be a qualified voter of the precinct and to not have
been finally convicted of an offense involving voter fraud. Allows the
alternate presiding judge of a precinct to be a qualified voter of another
precinct in the county if the precinct in which a political party's
candidate for governor received more than 85 percent of the vote in the
most recent gubernatorial general election.
SECTION 12. (Subcommittee amendment) Amends Section 32.0552, Election
Code, to make ineligible as an election judge or clerk a person finally
convicted of an election offense.
SECTION 13. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 32.091, Election Code, to
provide for a judge or clerk to be compensated at an hourly rate not to
exceed $6 an hour for services rendered under Section 62.014(c). Makes a
conforming change.
SECTION 14. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 32.094 (a), Election Code, by
making conforming changes.
SECTION 15. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 33.002 (a), Election Code, to
provide that candidates whose names appear on the list of write-in
candidates may appoint poll watchers.
SECTION 16. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 33.004 (a), Election Code, to
provide that a group of registered voters, on behalf of a write-in
candidate, may appoint poll watchers in which a declaration of write-in
candidacy is not required to be filed.
SECTION 17. (Original HB 331) Amends Sections 33.006 (b) and (c), Election
Code, by making conforming changes.
SECTION 18. Amends Section 33.035, Election Code, to make ineligible as a
poll watcher a person finally convicted of an election offense.
SECTION 19. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 34.001 (c), Election Code, to
provide that a request for election inspectors to the secretary of state
cannot be available for public inspection until the day after election
day.
SECTION 20. (HB 1966- Madden)Amends Section 41.001, Election Code, by
adding subsection (c) which prohibits holding an election thirty days
prior to or after a general election, primary election, or primary run-off
election except as provided for in Subsection (a) or Section 41.0011.
SECTION 21. (HB 543 by Puente) Amends Section 52.031(c) by permitting a
candidate to use a nickname in an election if known by that moniker at
least three years preceding the election. Prohibits nicknames that
constitute a slogan or otherwise indicate certain views. Requires a
candidate to file an application for a place on the ballot an affidavit
indicating that the nickname complies with this subsection.
SECTION 22. (Original HB 331)Amends Section 52.061 (a), Election Code, to
include lightcolored paper other than white paper for printing ballots,
but prohibits ballots to be the same color as sample ballots.
SECTION 23. (Subcommittee amendment) Amends Section 61.010, Election
Code, by amending the heading of the section to read: "Wearing Name Tag or
Badge in Polling Place."
SECTION 24. (Subcommittee amendment) Amends Section 61.010 (b), Election
Code, by requiring election officials at a polling place to wear, while on
duty, a name tag and and official badge that indicates the person's title
or position.
SECTION 25. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 62.014, Election Code, by
adding Subsection (c) to provide that an election officer can make changes
(already early voted) to the list of registered voters required by this
section at a location other than the polling place before it is opened for
voting.
SECTION 26. (Subcommittee amendment) Amends Section 63.009 (a), Election
Code, by allowing the election officer to accept for voting a voter
without a certificate who is not on the list if the voter presents proof
of identification in a form prescribed by the secretary of state. Allows
the voter to execute an affidavit if any requirement prescribed by
Subdivision (1) is not met.
SECTION 27. (Subcommittee amendment) Amends Section 63.010 (d), Election
Code, to allow the presiding judge to request any voter present proof of
identification in the event of a challenge. The documentation of proof
must be in a form prescribed by the secretary of state.
SECTION 28. (Original HB 331)Amends Section 67.004 (c), Election Code, by
deleting the requirement that the canvassing authority report the early
voting votes by the early voting polling place location.
SECTION 29. (Secretary of State clarification Amendment) Amends Section
84.001 Subsections (a) and (e) to provide: (a) to be eligible to vote an
early voting ballot by mail, the eligible individual must make application
for a early ballot to be voted by mail; (b) If the individual does not
make application to receive a early voting ballot to be mailed in , that
individual is not entitled to such.
SECTION 30. (Secretary of State clarification Amendment) Amends Section
85.031, Election Code. Providing that for each person voting a early
ballot in person the Clerk shall follow the same procedure as regular
election day with modifications necessary for the conduct of early
voting. A signature roster is not to be maintained at a early voting
polling site. Upon accepting a voter a clerk must denote on the registered
voter list or registration omissions list that the voter was accepted,
unless form structure makes this impractical, in such case the name be
entered on the poll list.
SECTION 31. (HB 1966- Madden) Amends Section 85.062(b), Election Code, to
restrict the use of mobile voting to only the general election for state
and county officers, general primary or runoff primary election.
SECTION 32. (HB 1966- Madden) Amends Section 85.064(b), Election Code, by
inserting language to allow flexible hours to be set for temporary branch
polling places by the authority charged with the establishment of said
polling places. Allows for petition by 15 registered voters to request
the same hours as the main early voting location.
SECTION 33. (Madden Amendment) Amends Section 85.069 by adding Subsection
(b) as follows
(b) The composition of the set of election officers serving a branch
polling place must provide representation for each political party
conducting a primary election in the county.
SECTION 34. (HB 1966- Madden) Amends Section 87.002, Election Code, by
adding Subsection (c) to require participation by at least one
representative from each political party, which conducts a primary in that
county, on the Early Voting Ballot Board convened for the general, general
primary or runoff primary election, the names to be selected from a list
supplied by the county chair of the political party.
SECTION 35. (HB 1966- Madden) Amends Section 87.0241(b), Election Code,
by allowing the counting of early voting ballots, but not releasing the
results, in counties with a population exceeding 100,000 to commence at
the close of early voting.
SECTION 36. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 87.1231, Election Code, as
follows:
Sec. 87.1231. New heading: EARLY VOTING VOTES REPORTED BY PRECINCT.
Deletes the requirement that the early voting clerk deliver a report of
the total number of early votes by early voting poling place to the local
canvassing authority. Eliminates the requirement to report early voting
results by early voting polling location and prohibiting reporting of the
early voting totals when there are fewer than five ballots cast in a
precinct.
SECTION 37. (HB 1350- Denny) Amends Section 127.006, Subsection (b),
Election Code, to allow general custodian of election records and the
employees of the custodian to be eligible to serve as clerks at a central
counting station. Makes ineligible to serve as clerk an employee of a
political subdivision because the person is a qualified voter of a county
other than the county in which the central counting station is located or
because of the custodian's status as a candidate or officeholder.
SECTION 38. (HB 1966- Madden) Amends Section 127.1231, Election Code, by
inserting an exception clause, thereby necessitating the need for a
Subsection (a), and then adding Subsection (b) to establish a method for
transmitting by modem the results of an election from a precinct polling
place or regional tabulation center to a central counting station, per the
secretary of state's guidelines.
SECTION 39. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 127.201, Election Code, to
require the manual count to be completed no later than the 21st day after
the election. Provides that Subsection (b) supersedes this subsection to
the extent of a conflict. Requires the secretary of state to designate no
more than three offices and no more than three propositions to be counted
in the selected precincts. Requires the general custodian of election
records to post in the custodian's office a notice of the date, hour, and
place of the count when a selection or notification of the precincts to be
counted occurs. Requires a representative to deliver a certificate of
appointment to the general custodian at the time the representative
reports for service. Sets forth certain criteria for the certificate.
Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 40. (Original HB 331) Amends Sections 141.032 (c) and (d),
Election Code, to provide that the petition is not considered part of the
application for purposes of determining compliance with the requirements
applicable to each document, and a deficiency in the requirements for one
document may not be remedied by the other document's contents. Makes a
conforming change.
SECTION 41. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 141.063 (a)(2)(B), Election
Code, by adding the signer's date of birth to the information included on
a signature.
Amends 141.063(a)(5)(b), (c), and (d): to provide that the signature is
the only information required to appear on the petition in the signer's
own handwriting; provides that the use of ditto marks or abbreviations
does not invalidate a signature if the required information is reasonably
ascertainable; provides that the omission of the state from the signer's
residence address does not invalidate a signature unless the political
subdivision from which the signature is obtained is situated in more than
one state; and provides that the omission of the zip code from the address
does not invalidate a signature.
SECTION 42. (Secretary of State clarification Amendment) Amends Section
141.069 of the Election Code, to provide that if signatures on a petition
containing more than 1,000 are to be verified, the authority may use as
the basis for verification any statistical sampling method that ensures at
least a 95% accuracy rate.
SECTION 43. (Original HB 331) Amends Chapter 142, Election Code, by adding
Section 142.002, as follows:
Sec. 142.0021. FILING DECLARATIONS OF INTENT FOR MORE THAN ONE OFFICE
PROHIBITED. (a) Prohibits a candidate from filing declarations of intent
for two or more offices that (1) are not permitted by law to be held by
the same person and (2) are to be voted on the same day.
(b) Provides that each declaration filed subsequent to the first one
filed is invalid if a person files more than one declaration of intent.
SECTION 44. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 142.010 (c), Election Code,
by making a conforming change.
SECTION 45. (HB 1652- Siebert) Amends Section 161.006, Election Code, new
title "Holding Primary or Precinct Conventions of More than One Party in
Same Building." Deletes prohibition against a political party holding
primary elections in the same building as other political party.
SECTION 46. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 162.008 (a), Election Code,
by clarifying that, 7 p.m. is the time when a general primary election day
ends.
SECTION 47. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 171.022, Election Code, by
amending Subsection (b) to make conforming change and adding Subsection
(d) to provide that the state executive committee by rule may provide for
the election of the county chair or precinct chairs of a particular county
by plurality vote.
SECTION 48. (Original HB 331-Galloway Amendment) Amends Subchapter B,
Chapter 171, Election Code, by adding Section 171.0221, as follows:
Sec. 171.0221. ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE BY WRITE-IN CANDIDATE. (a) Requires
the county executive committee to deliver written notice within seven days
to a write-in candidate informing the candidate who receives the vote
required for election of that fact.
(b) Provides that a write-on candidate for county or precinct chair who
receives the required votes for election must file a written declaration
of acceptance of the office no later than the seventh day after the date
of the receipt of the notice in order to assume office.
SECTION 49. (HB 1351- Denny) Amends Section 171.024, Election Code by
amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection (e) to
clarify the procedure for filling a vacancy in the office of precinct
chairman of a political party.
SECTION 50. (HB 1652- Siebert) Amends Section 172.1111, Election Code,
titled "Posting Notice of Precinct Convention Required." Clarifies that
notices shall be posted in bold print at all outside doors, and that
notices shall remain posted continuously throughout election day.
SECTION 51. (HB 1652- Siebert) Amends Section 172, Election Code, by
adding new Section 172.126, authorizing joint primaries and defining the
terms and conditions under which joint primaries shall be conducted.
Under SECTION 51:
The decision to conduct joint primary election must be made by majority
vote of the full membership of the commissioners court and with the
unanimous approval of the county clerk and county chair of each political
party required to nominate candidates by primary election.
The county clerk shall determine whether to consolidate election
precincts and shall designate the location of the polling place in a
consolidated precinct.
One set of election officers shall conduct the primary election at each
polling place. The presiding judge of each party, or alternate judge if
applicable, serves as co-judge who can conduct challenges on eligibility
of voters.
The secretary of state shall prescribe the maximum number of clerks that
may be appointed for each precinct.
The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures which allow for
appointment of one set of election officers that provides representation
for each party on th early voting ballot board and any central counting
station.
Provides for a separate set of ballot boxes or other suitable containers
for each party's primary. A separate list of registered voters shall be
used for each party's primary. Separate election returns shall be
prepared for each party's primary.
The secretary of state by rule shall prescribe requirements to ensure the
party's ballots are distinguishable from each other, which may include
different colors of ink.
SECTION 52. (HB 1652- Siebert) Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 173, Election
Code, by adding new Section 173.011, defining the terms and conditions
under which joint primary shall be financed. Requires any surplus
remaining in county primary fund to be remitted to county clerk after
final payment from the primary expenses fund.
Any surplus primary funds received by the county clerk may be used only
for paying the remaining expenses of the joint primary election.
SECTION 53. (Secretary of State clarification Amendment) Amends Section
181.006(k), Election Code, to allow the secretary of state to verify the
petition signatures regardless of whether the petition is timely
challenged.
SECTION 54. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 212.005, Election Code, by
amending Subsection (c) to make a conforming change and adding Subsection
(d) to provide that only one method may be used in the recount if
different counting methods are chosen among multiple request for a recount
of electronic voting system results. Requires a manual recount to be
conducted in preference to an electronic recount and an electronic recount
using a corrected program to be conducted in preference to an electronic
recount using the same program as the original count.
SECTION 55. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 212.0241, Election Code, as
follows:
(a) Makes a conforming change.
(b) Provides that a candidate for nomination or election to an office may
obtain an initial recount of electronic voting system results in an
election in which the person was a candidate only if the candidate is
shown by the election returns not to be nominated or elected.
(c) Creates a new Subsection (c) out of existing text.
(d) Provides that the this section does not affect the scope of a
recount.
SECTION 56. (Original HB 331) Amends Sections 212.081, 212.083, and
212.085, Election Code, by deleting language that applies to a regularly
scheduled runoff (its applicability to recounts, its deadlines, and
submitting and amending petitions).
SECTION 57. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 212.113, Election Code, by
creating Subsections (a) and (b) out of existing text and adding
Subsection (c) to require the recount coordinator to return the recount
deposit to each person requesting a recount who chose a counting method
not used before the other counting method was determined the preferential
method.
SECTION 58. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 232.008, Election Code, by
adding Subsection (d) to provide that the contestant must deliver a copy
of the petition to the secretary of state by the same deadline prescribed
for the filing of the petition.
SECTION 59. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 233.006, Election Code, by
adding Subsection (c) to provide that the contestant must deliver a copy
of the petition to the secretary of state by the same deadline prescribed
for the filing of the petition.
SECTION 60. (Original HB 331) Amends Chapter 271, Election Code, by adding
Section 271.0071 as follows:
Sec. 271.0071. MULTIPLE METHODS OF VOTING ALLOWED. Provides that the
restrictions on multiple methods of voting at the same polling place or in
early voting do not apply to a joint election as if the joint election
were a single election but rather apply independently to the election of
each participating political subdivision in the joint election.
SECTION 61. (Original HB 331) Amends Section 277.002 (a) and (d), Election
Code, to require the signer's date of birth for a petition to be valid and
allows that the omission of the zip code from the address does not
invalidate the signature.
SECTION 62. (Amendment by Madden) Repeals Section 84.006, Election Code.
SECTION 63. (HB 1966 by Madden) Requires the secretary of state to file a
report with the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives on the costs of elections held by political subdivisions
of this state on dates other than the uniform election dates prescribed by
Section 41.001, Election Code.
SECTION 64. Effective date of September 1, 1997.
SECTION 65. Emergency clause.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute represents an incorporation of provisions from a number of
bills, as well as extraneous amendments, into the introduced version of HB
331. The origin of each section of the substitute is indicated
(parenthetically) following each section number in the section-bysection
analysis.
SECTION 1. Original Bill, now SECTION 6 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 2. Original Bill, now SECTION 7 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 3. Original Bill, SECTION 8 of substitute, incorporates
provisions from HB 916 by Jones which provide for a list of names, instead
of a single name per precinct, to be submitted per election judge
position. This was done to account for the instance when a single person
might not meet the requirements to be election judge.
SECTION 4. Original Bill, now SECTION 9 of substitute, has no significant
substantive changes.
SECTION 5. Original Bill, now SECTION 13 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 6. Original Bill, now SECTION 14 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 7. Original Bill, now SECTION 15 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 8. Original Bill, now SECTION 16 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 9. Original Bill, now SECTION 17 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 10. Original Bill, now SECTION 19 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 11. Original Bill, now SECTION 22 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 12. Original Bill, now SECTION 25 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 13. Original Bill, now SECTION 28 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 14. Original Bill, now SECTION 36 of substitute, amended by
adding Section 87.1231(b) which prohibits the early voting clerk from
reporting vote totals under Subsection (a) for an election precinct in
which fewer than five votes are cast during the early voting period.
SECTION 15. Original Bill, now SECTION 39 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 16. Original Bill, now SECTION 40 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 17. Original Bill, now SECTION 41 of substitute, adds language
to Section 141.063(2)(b), Election Code, which adds the signer's date of
birth as an alternative to the voter registration number to the list of
items a petition should include.
SECTION 18. Original Bill, now SECTION 43 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 19. Original Bill, now SECTION 44 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 20. Original Bill, now SECTION 46 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 21. Original Bill, now SECTION 47 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 22. Original Bill, now SECTION 48 of substitute, extends the time
a county executive committee must alert a write-in candidate who receives
the vote required for election from three (in original bill) to seven
days.
SECTION 23. Original Bill, now SECTION 54 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 24. Original Bill, now SECTION 55 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 25. Original Bill, now SECTION 56 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 26. Original Bill, now SECTION 57 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 27. Original Bill, now SECTION 58 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 28. Original Bill, now SECTION 59 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 29. Original Bill, now SECTION 60 of substitute, has no
significant substantive changes.
SECTION 30. Original Bill, now SECTION 61 of substitute, amends Section
277.002 (a) and (d), Election Code, to add the signer's date of birth as
an alternative to the voter registration number to the list of items a
petition should include. Also stipulates that the omission of the zip
code from the address does not invalidate a signature on a petition.
Sections 1 - 5, 10 - 12, 20 - 21, 23 - 24, 26 - 27, 29 - 35, 37 - 38, 42,
45, 49 - 53, and 62 - 63 of the substitute were not in the original
measure. See section-by-section analysis for a description of the content
of those provisions and their origin.