By Maxey H.B. No. 1711
76R5801 DRH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the designation of polling places for certain
1-3 elections.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 43.002, Election Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-7 (c) A polling place location may not be changed for two
1-8 years following its designation under this section unless:
1-9 (1) the location is unavailable for use in the
1-10 election; or
1-11 (2) the precinct the polling place serves is divided
1-12 or eliminated.
1-13 SECTION 2. Section 43.003, Election Code, is amended to read
1-14 as follows:
1-15 Sec. 43.003. DESIGNATION OF LOCATION: PRIMARY ELECTION. (a)
1-16 The county chair of a political party holding a primary election
1-17 shall use the polling places designated under Section 43.002
1-18 [designate the location of the polling place] for each election
1-19 precinct in the primary unless:
1-20 (1) the location is unavailable for use in the
1-21 election; or
1-22 (2) the precinct the polling place serves is divided
1-23 or eliminated [the precinct is one that is consolidated].
1-24 (b) If a polling place designated under Section 43.002
2-1 cannot be used [In that case], the county chair [executive
2-2 committee] shall designate the location of the polling place.
2-3 SECTION 3. Section 43.004, Election Code, is amended to read
2-4 as follows:
2-5 Sec. 43.004. DESIGNATION OF LOCATION: ELECTIONS OF OTHER
2-6 POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. (a) The governing body of each political
2-7 subdivision authorized to hold elections, other than a county,
2-8 shall use the polling places designated under Section 43.002
2-9 [designate the location of the polling place] for each of its
2-10 election precincts unless:
2-11 (1) the location is unavailable for use in the
2-12 election; or
2-13 (2) the precinct the polling place serves is divided,
2-14 eliminated, or does not correspond to the county election precinct.
2-15 (b) If a polling place designated under Section 43.002
2-16 cannot be used, the governing body shall designate the location of
2-17 the polling place.
2-18 SECTION 4. Section 43.005, Election Code, is amended to read
2-19 as follows:
2-20 Sec. 43.005. DESIGNATION OF LOCATION: CERTAIN SPECIAL
2-21 ELECTIONS. (a) The authority establishing election precincts
2-22 under Section 42.062 shall use the polling places designated under
2-23 Section 43.002 [designate the location of the polling place] for
2-24 each precinct unless:
2-25 (1) the location is unavailable for use in the
2-26 election; or
2-27 (2) the precinct the polling place serves is divided,
3-1 eliminated, or does not correspond to the county election precinct.
3-2 (b) If a polling place designated under Section 43.002
3-3 cannot be used, the authority shall designate the location of the
3-4 polling place.
3-5 SECTION 5. Section 43.006, Election Code, is amended to read
3-6 as follows:
3-7 Sec. 43.006. CONFLICTS WITH OTHER LAW. This subchapter
3-8 supersedes a [A] law outside this subchapter [supersedes this
3-9 subchapter] to the extent of any conflict.
3-10 SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-11 SECTION 7. The importance of this legislation and the
3-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.