By West H.B. No. 1470
75R2927 DRH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to primary election dates and procedures and related
1-3 dates.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 41.001(a), Election Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, each
1-8 general or special election in this state shall be held on one of
1-9 the following dates:
1-10 (1) the third Saturday in January;
1-11 (2) the first Saturday in May; or
1-12 (3) [the second Saturday in August; or]
1-13 [(4)] the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
1-14 November.
1-15 SECTION 2. Section 41.0052(a), Election Code, is amended to
1-16 read as follows:
1-17 (a) The governing body of a political subdivision other than
1-18 a county may, not later than December 31, 1997 [1993], change the
1-19 date on which it holds its general election for officers to another
1-20 authorized uniform election date. An election on the new date may
1-21 not be held before 1998 [1994].
1-22 SECTION 3. Sections 41.007(a) and (b), Election Code, are
1-23 amended to read as follows:
1-24 (a) The general primary election date is the second Saturday
2-1 in July [second Tuesday in March] in each even-numbered year.
2-2 (b) The runoff primary election date is the second Saturday
2-3 in August [second Tuesday in April] following the general primary
2-4 election.
2-5 SECTION 4. Section 172.023(a), Election Code, is amended to
2-6 read as follows:
2-7 (a) An application for a place on the general primary
2-8 election ballot must be filed not later than 6 p.m. on the third
2-9 Monday in May [January 2] in the primary election year unless the
2-10 filing deadline is extended under Subchapter C.
2-11 SECTION 5. Sections 191.004(a) and (c), Election Code, are
2-12 amended to read as follows:
2-13 (a) [A single ballot shall be used for the presidential
2-14 primary election and general primary election.] The secretary of
2-15 state shall prescribe the form of the presidential primary election
2-16 ballot[, which must accommodate the regular form for the general
2-17 primary election to the extent practicable].
2-18 (c) A drawing to determine the order in which the
2-19 presidential candidates' names are printed on the ballot in the
2-20 county shall be conducted in accordance with procedures prescribed
2-21 by the secretary of state [conjunction with the regular drawing for
2-22 position on the general primary election ballot]. "Uncommitted"
2-23 shall be printed on the ballot following the candidates' names, if
2-24 applicable.
2-25 SECTION 6. Section 191.005, Election Code, is amended to
2-26 read as follows:
2-27 Sec. 191.005. Procedures for Conduct of Presidential Primary
3-1 Generally. (a) [The presidential primary election shall be held
3-2 in conjunction with the party's general primary election.]
3-3 [(b)] Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, the
3-4 presidential primary election shall be conducted and the results
3-5 canvassed, tabulated, and reported in accordance with the
3-6 procedures prescribed by this code in relation to the general
3-7 primary election to the extent those procedures can be made
3-8 applicable.
3-9 (b) [(c)] The secretary of state shall prescribe any
3-10 additional procedures necessary for the orderly and proper
3-11 administration of the presidential primary election.
3-12 SECTION 7. The term of a person who is serving as a county
3-13 or precinct chairman of a political party on the effective date of
3-14 this Act ends on the 20th day after the second Saturday in August
3-15 1998.
3-16 SECTION 8. The secretary of state by rule shall modify
3-17 applicable procedures, dates, and deadlines in the Election Code to
3-18 implement the changes in primary election dates made by this Act
3-19 and to ensure the orderly and proper administration of the general
3-20 election for state and county officers.
3-21 SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
3-22 SECTION 10. The importance of this legislation and the
3-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.