76R14364 GGS-F                           
         By Danburg                                            H.B. No. 3206
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3206:
         By Denny                                          C.S.H.B. No. 3206
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to certain election processes and procedures; providing
 1-3     criminal penalties.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 1.005, Election Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Subdivision (25) to read as follows:
 1-7                 (25)  "Electioneering" includes:
 1-8                       (A)  wearing or holding a button, sticker, pin,
 1-9     or other paraphernalia, including an article of clothing, relating
1-10     to a candidate, measure, or political party; or
1-11                       (B)  verbally communicating in any manner with
1-12     the intention of influencing voters.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Chapter 1, Election Code, is amended by adding
1-14     Section 1.017 to read as follows:
1-15           Sec. 1.017.  RELATIONSHIP INVOLVING INFORMAL MARRIAGE.  For
1-16     purposes of this code and any other law of this state relating to
1-17     the conduct of an election, a relationship involving marriage
1-18     includes an informal marriage described by Section 2.401, Family
1-19     Code.
1-20           SECTION 3.  Section 2.025, Election Code, is amended to read
1-21     as follows:
1-22           Sec. 2.025.  RUNOFF ELECTION DAY.  (a)  Except as otherwise
1-23     provided by this code [Subsection (b)], a runoff election shall be
1-24     held not earlier than the 20th or later than the 45th [30th] day
 2-1     after the date the final canvass of the main election is completed.
 2-2           (b)  A runoff election date later than [may be held after]
 2-3     the period prescribed by Subsection (a) may be prescribed by a
 2-4     home-rule city charter [law but not later than the 45th day after
 2-5     the date the final canvass of the main election is completed only
 2-6     to:]
 2-7                 [(1)  permit a joint runoff election to be held with
 2-8     another political subdivision in accordance with Chapter 271; or]
 2-9                 [(2)  avoid holding the runoff on:]
2-10                       [(A)  a legal state or national holiday; or]
2-11                       [(B)  a weekend day within three days of a legal
2-12     state or national holiday].
2-13           (c)  This section [Subsection (b)] supersedes a law outside
2-14     this subchapter to the extent of a conflict notwithstanding Section
2-15     2.022.
2-16           SECTION 4.  Section 2.051(b), Election Code, is amended to
2-17     read as follows:
2-18           (b)  In the case of an election in which any members of the
2-19     political subdivision's governing body are elected from territorial
2-20     units such as single-member districts, this subchapter applies to
2-21     the election in a particular territorial unit [single-member
2-22     district] if[:]
2-23                 [(1)]  each candidate whose name is to appear on the
2-24     ballot in that territorial unit [district] is unopposed and no
2-25     at-large proposition or opposed at-large race is to appear on the
2-26     ballot.  This subchapter applies to an unopposed at-large race in
2-27     such an election regardless of whether an opposed race is to appear
 3-1     on the ballot in a particular territorial unit[; and]
 3-2                 [(2)  the requirements prescribed by Subsection (a) are
 3-3     otherwise met].
 3-4           SECTION 5.  Section 2.053(c), Election Code, is amended to
 3-5     read as follows:
 3-6           (c)  A certificate of election shall be issued to each
 3-7     candidate in the same manner and at the same time as provided for a
 3-8     candidate elected at the election. The candidate must qualify for
 3-9     the office in the same manner as provided for a candidate elected
3-10     at the election.
3-11           SECTION 6.  Section 13.072(c), Election Code, is amended to
3-12     read as follows:
3-13           (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d) [or (e)], if the
3-14     registrar determines that an application does not comply with
3-15     Section 13.002 or does not indicate that the applicant is eligible
3-16     for registration, the registrar shall reject the application.
3-17           SECTION 7.  Section 13.073, Election Code, is amended by
3-18     adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
3-19           (c)  If the registrar rejects an application for
3-20     incompleteness but receives a completed application not later than
3-21     the 10th day after the date the notice is delivered under
3-22     Subsection (a) or the date the incomplete application is returned
3-23     under Subsection (b), as applicable, the original date of
3-24     submission of the incomplete application is considered to be the
3-25     date of submission to the registrar for the purpose of determining
3-26     the effective date of registration.
3-27           SECTION 8.  Section 15.025, Election Code, is amended to read
 4-1     as follows:
 4-2           Sec. 15.025.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF CERTAIN CHANGES IN
 4-3     REGISTRATION INFORMATION [IN PRECINCT OF NEW RESIDENCE].  (a)
 4-4     Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (d), the [The]
 4-5     registration of a voter described by this subsection whose
 4-6     information [residence] is changed on the registration records [to
 4-7     another county election precinct in the same county] becomes
 4-8     effective as to the change [in the precinct of new residence] on
 4-9     the 30th day after:
4-10                 (1)  the date the voter submits to the registrar
4-11     [receives] a notice of a change in registration information under
4-12     Section 15.021 or a [voter's] response under Section 15.053,
4-13     indicating the change [of residence]; or
4-14                 (2)  the date the voter submits a statement of
4-15     residence to an election officer under Section 63.0011 or a
4-16     registration application or change of address to an agency employee
4-17     under Chapter 20, indicating the change [of residence].
4-18           (b)  A change in registration information covered by this
4-19     section is effective for purposes of early voting if it will be
4-20     effective on election day.
4-21           (c)  For purposes of determining the effective date of a
4-22     change in registration information covered by this section, a
4-23     document submitted by mail is considered to be submitted to the
4-24     registrar on the date it is placed with postage prepaid and
4-25     properly addressed in the United States mail. The date indicated by
4-26     the post office cancellation mark is considered to be the date the
4-27     document was placed in the mail unless proven otherwise.
 5-1           (d)  If the 30th day before the date of an election is a
 5-2     Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, the document
 5-3     is considered to be timely if it is submitted to the registrar on
 5-4     or before the next regular business day.
 5-5           SECTION 9.  Section 16.0332(a), Election Code, is amended to
 5-6     read as follows:
 5-7           (a)  After the registrar receives a list under  Section
 5-8     62.113, Government Code, of persons excused or disqualified from
 5-9     jury service because of citizenship status, the registrar shall
5-10     deliver to each registered voter who appears on the list a written
5-11     notice requiring the voter to provide proof of United States
5-12     citizenship in the form of a certified copy of the voter's birth
5-13     certificate, United States passport, or certificate of
5-14     naturalization or any other [a] form prescribed by the secretary of
5-15     state.  The notice shall be delivered by forwardable mail to the
5-16     mailing address on the voter's registration application and to any
5-17     new address of the voter known to the registrar.
5-18           SECTION 10.  Section 16.036(a), Election Code, is amended to
5-19     read as follows:
5-20           (a)  Immediately after cancellation of a voter's registration
5-21     under Section 16.031(a)(3), 16.033, [or] 16.0331, or 16.0332, the
5-22     registrar shall deliver written notice of the cancellation to the
5-23     voter.
5-24           SECTION 11.  Section 19.001(a), Election Code, is amended to
5-25     read as follows:
5-26           (a)  Before May 15 of each year, the registrar shall prepare
5-27     and submit to the comptroller of public accounts a statement
 6-1     containing:
 6-2                 (1)  the total number of initial registrations for the
 6-3     previous voting year;
 6-4                 (2)  the total number of registrations canceled under
 6-5     Sections 16.031(a)(1), [and] 16.033, and 16.0332 for the previous
 6-6     voting year; and
 6-7                 (3)  the total number of registrations for which
 6-8     information was updated for the previous voting year.
 6-9           SECTION 12.  Section 63.0101, Election Code, is amended to
6-10     read as follows:
6-11           Sec. 63.0101.  DOCUMENTATION OF PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION.  The
6-12     following documentation is acceptable as proof of identification
6-13     under this chapter:
6-14                 (1)  a driver's license or personal identification card
6-15     issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety or a
6-16     similar document issued to the person by an agency of another
6-17     state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired;
6-18                 (2)  a form of identification containing the person's
6-19     photograph that establishes the person's identity;
6-20                 (3)  a birth certificate or other document confirming
6-21     birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the
6-22     person's identity;
6-23                 (4)  United States citizenship papers issued to the
6-24     person;
6-25                 (5)  a United States passport issued to the person;
6-26                 (6)  pre-printed checks containing the person's name
6-27     that are issued for a financial institution doing business in this
 7-1     state;
 7-2                 (7)  official mail addressed to the person by name from
 7-3     a governmental entity;
 7-4                 (8)  two other forms of identification that establish
 7-5     the person's identity; [or]
 7-6                 (9)  an affidavit executed by a person who is working
 7-7     at the polling place that attests to the identity of the voter, if
 7-8     the voter does not have documentation described by Subdivisions
 7-9     (1)-(8) in the voter's possession at the polling place at the time
7-10     of offering to vote; or
7-11                 (10)  any other form of identification prescribed by
7-12     the secretary of state.
7-13           SECTION 13.  Subchapter B, Chapter 83, Election Code, is
7-14     amended by adding Section 83.035 to read as follows:
7-15           Sec. 83.035.  DEPUTIES SERVING AT MAIN EARLY VOTING POLLING
7-16     PLACE IN CERTAIN ELECTIONS.  (a)  To the extent possible, deputy
7-17     early voting clerks appointed to serve at the main early voting
7-18     polling place for a primary election, the general election for
7-19     state and county officers, or a special election to fill a vacancy
7-20     in the legislature or in congress must be affiliated or aligned
7-21     with different political parties.
7-22           (b)  The secretary of state, after consulting the state chair
7-23     of each political party required to nominate candidates by primary
7-24     election, shall prescribe the procedures necessary to implement
7-25     this section.
7-26           SECTION 14.  Section 84.032, Election Code, is amended by
7-27     amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
 8-1     follows:
 8-2           (b)  A request must:
 8-3                 (1)  be in writing and signed by the applicant;
 8-4                 (2)  specify the election for which the application was
 8-5     made; and
 8-6                 (3)  except as provided by Subsection (c), [or] (d), or
 8-7     (e), be received by the early voting clerk:
 8-8                       (A)  not later than the third day before election
 8-9     day; and
8-10                       (B)  if an early voting ballot sent to the
8-11     applicant is returned to the clerk as a marked ballot, before the
8-12     marked ballot's arrival at the address on the carrier envelope.
8-13           (e)  An applicant may also submit a request at any time after
8-14     the early voting ballot is returned to the early voting clerk as a
8-15     marked ballot and before the ballot is delivered to the early
8-16     voting ballot board by appearing in person and executing an
8-17     affidavit that the applicant did not mark the ballot.
8-18           SECTION 15.  Sections 85.036(a) and (b), Election Code, are
8-19     amended to read as follows:
8-20           (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), during  the time
8-21     an early voting polling place is open for the conduct of early
8-22     voting, a person may not electioneer for or against any candidate,
8-23     measure, or political party in or within a certain distance from
8-24     the building or structure in which the early voting polling place
8-25     is located, as follows:
8-26                 (1)  for a building containing the main early voting
8-27     polling place, a person may not electioneer in the room in which
 9-1     the polling place is located or within 100 [30] feet of the
 9-2     entrance to the room in which the polling place is located;
 9-3                 (2)  for a building that is also used as a precinct
 9-4     polling place, a person may not electioneer within 100 feet of an
 9-5     outside door through which a voter may enter the building in which
 9-6     the polling place is located; and
 9-7                 (3)  for any other structure, a person may not
 9-8     electioneer within 100 [30] feet of the entrance to the voting
 9-9     area.
9-10           (b)  For a county courthouse, subcourthouse, or courthouse
9-11     annex, a person may not electioneer in the building or within 100
9-12     [30] feet of an outside door through which a voter may enter the
9-13     building in which the polling place is located if the commissioners
9-14     court issues an order to that effect.  The order must be recorded
9-15     in the commissioners court's minutes not later than the 10th day
9-16     before the date early voting is to be conducted in the building.
9-17           SECTION 16.  Section 86.007(d), Election Code, is amended to
9-18     read as follows:
9-19           (d)  A marked ballot voted by mail that arrives after the
9-20     time prescribed by Subsection (a) shall be counted if:
9-21                 (1)  the ballot was cast from an address outside the
9-22     United States;
9-23                 (2)  the carrier envelope was placed for delivery
9-24     before the time the ballot is required to arrive under Subsection
9-25     (a); and
9-26                 (3)  the ballot arrives at the address on the carrier
9-27     envelope not later than:
 10-1                      (A)  the fifth day after the date of the general
 10-2    election for state and county officers; or
 10-3                      (B)  the second day after the date of an election
 10-4    other than the general election for state and county officers or
 10-5    the fifth day after the date of a joint election if the political
 10-6    subdivision's ballot is combined with the ballot for the general
 10-7    election for state and county officers.
 10-8          SECTION 17.  Section 87.0241, Election Code, is amended by
 10-9    amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
10-10    follows:
10-11          (b)  The board may not count early voting ballots until:
10-12                (1)  the polls open on election day; or
10-13                (2)  in an election conducted by an authority of a
10-14    county with a population of 100,000 or more or conducted jointly
10-15    with such a county, the end of the period for early voting by
10-16    personal appearance.
10-17          (c)  The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures
10-18    necessary for implementing this section in regard to elections
10-19    described by Subsection (b)(2).
10-20          SECTION 18.  Section 87.026, Election Code, is amended to
10-21    read as follows:
10-22          Sec. 87.026.  BYSTANDERS EXCLUDED.  Except as permitted by
10-23    this code, a person may not be in the meeting place of an early
10-24    voting ballot board or signature verification committee during the
10-25    time of the board's or committee's operations.
10-26          SECTION 19.  Section 87.027(f), Election Code, is amended to
10-27    read as follows:
 11-1          (f)  The early voting clerk shall determine the place, day or
 11-2    days, and hours of operation of the signature verification
 11-3    committee and shall state that information in the order calling for
 11-4    the committee's appointment.  A committee may not begin operating
 11-5    before the 20th day before election day and may not continue
 11-6    operating after 5 p.m. of the fourth day before election day unless
 11-7    that period is extended by written order of the presiding judge of
 11-8    the early voting ballot board.
 11-9          SECTION 20.  Section 87.0271(a), Election Code, is amended to
11-10    read as follows:
11-11          (a)  A signature verification committee shall be appointed in
11-12    the general election for state and county officers [on receipt] by
11-13    the early voting clerk on the submission of a written request for
11-14    the committee [submitted] by at least 15 registered voters of the
11-15    county.  The request must be submitted not later than the preceding
11-16    October 1, and a request submitted by mail is considered to be
11-17    submitted at the time of its receipt by the clerk.  Except as
11-18    provided by this section, Section 87.027 applies to the committee.
11-19          SECTION 21.  Section 87.041(b), Election Code, is amended to
11-20    read as follows:
11-21          (b)  A ballot may be accepted only if:
11-22                (1)  the carrier envelope certificate is properly
11-23    executed;
11-24                (2)  neither the voter's signature on the ballot
11-25    application nor the signature on the carrier envelope certificate
11-26    is determined to have been executed by a person other than the
11-27    voter, unless signed by a witness;
 12-1                (3)  the voter's ballot application states a legal
 12-2    ground for early voting by mail;
 12-3                (4)  the voter is registered to vote, if registration
 12-4    is required by law;
 12-5                (5)  the address to which the ballot was mailed to the
 12-6    voter, as indicated by the application, was outside the voter's
 12-7    county of residence, if the ground for early voting is absence from
 12-8    the county of residence; [and]
 12-9                (6)  for a voter to whom a statement of residence form
12-10    was required to be sent under Section 86.002(a), the statement of
12-11    residence is returned in the carrier envelope and indicates that
12-12    the voter satisfies the residence requirements prescribed by
12-13    Section 63.0011; and
12-14                (7)  the address to which the ballot was mailed to the
12-15    voter is an address that is otherwise required by Sections 84.002
12-16    and 86.003.
12-17          SECTION 22.  Section 87.0431, Election Code, is amended to
12-18    read as follows:
12-19          Sec. 87.0431.  NOTICE OF REJECTED BALLOT.  (a)  Not later
12-20    than the 10th day after election day, the presiding judge of the
12-21    early voting ballot board shall deliver written notice of the
12-22    reason for the rejection of a ballot to the voter at the residence
12-23    address on the ballot application.
12-24          (b)  An original or copy of the notice is not available for
12-25    public inspection until the early voting election returns are
12-26    delivered to the general custodian of election records after the
12-27    election.
 13-1          SECTION 23.  Section 87.1231, Election Code, is amended to
 13-2    read as follows:
 13-3          Sec. 87.1231.  EARLY VOTING VOTES REPORTED BY PRECINCT.
 13-4    [(a)]  Not later than the time of the local canvass, the early
 13-5    voting clerk shall deliver to the local canvassing authority a
 13-6    report of the total number of early voting votes for each candidate
 13-7    or measure by election precinct. The report may reflect the total
 13-8    for votes by mail and the total for votes by personal appearance.
 13-9          [(b)  The early voting clerk may not report vote totals under
13-10    Subsection (a) for an election precinct in which fewer than five
13-11    votes are cast during the early voting period.]
13-12          SECTION 24.  Section 87.125(a), Election Code, is amended to
13-13    read as follows:
13-14          (a)  The early voting ballot board shall convene to count
13-15    ballots voted by mail described by Section 86.007(d) at the time
13-16    set by the presiding judge of the board [on]:
13-17                (1)  on the sixth day after the date of a general
13-18    election for state and county officers; [or]
13-19                (2)  on the second [fifth] day after the date of a
13-20    primary [or special] election, at a time following the last mail
13-21    delivery, or on an earlier day or at an earlier time if the early
13-22    voting clerk certifies that all ballots mailed from outside the
13-23    United States have been received; or
13-24                (3)  not earlier than the third day or later than the
13-25    fifth day after the date of an election other than an election
13-26    described by Subdivision (1) or (2).
13-27          SECTION 25.  Subchapter G, Chapter 87, Election Code, is
 14-1    amended by adding Sections 87.126 and 87.127 to read as follows:
 14-2          Sec. 87.126.  UNLAWFULLY DIVULGING VOTE.  (a)  A person
 14-3    commits an offense if the person was at the meeting place of an
 14-4    early voting ballot board or signature verification committee for
 14-5    any purpose and knowingly communicates to another person
 14-6    information that the person obtained at the meeting place of the
 14-7    board or committee about how a voter has voted.
 14-8          (b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third
 14-9    degree.
14-10          (c)  This section does not apply to information presented in
14-11    an official investigation or other official proceeding in which the
14-12    information is relevant.
14-13          Sec. 87.127.  UNLAWFULLY REVEALING INFORMATION BEFORE POLLS
14-14    CLOSE.  (a)  A person serving at the meeting place of an early
14-15    voting ballot board or signature verification committee in an
14-16    official capacity commits an offense if, before the polls close on
14-17    election day, the person reveals any of the following information
14-18    that the person obtained at the meeting place of the board or
14-19    committee:
14-20                (1)  the number of votes that have been received for a
14-21    candidate or for or against a measure;
14-22                (2)  a candidate's position relative to other
14-23    candidates in the tabulation of the votes;
14-24                (3)  whether a measure is passing or failing;
14-25                (4)  the names of persons who have or have not voted in
14-26    the election; or
14-27                (5)  any determination about a voter's balloting
 15-1    materials made by the board or committee under Section 87.027 or
 15-2    87.041.
 15-3          (b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
 15-4          SECTION 26.  Section 88.004, Election Code, is amended by
 15-5    adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
 15-6          (d)  An original or copy of the notice is not available for
 15-7    public inspection until the early voting election returns are
 15-8    delivered to the general custodian of election records after the
 15-9    election.
15-10          SECTION 27.  Section 102.003(b), Election Code, is amended to
15-11    read as follows:
15-12          (b)  An application may be submitted after the last day of
15-13    the period for early voting by personal appearance and before 5 [2]
15-14    p.m.  on election day.
15-15          SECTION 28.  Section 104.003, Election Code, is amended to
15-16    read as follows:
15-17          Sec. 104.003.  TIME AND PLACE FOR VOTING.  Voting under this
15-18    chapter shall be conducted on election day, beginning at 7 [8] a.m.
15-19    and concluding at 7 [2] p.m., at the main early voting polling
15-20    place[, except that the voting shall begin at 7 a.m. and conclude
15-21    at 7 p.m. in an election in which mechanical voting machines are
15-22    used].  However, if the early voting ballots voted by mail are
15-23    processed at a location other than the main early voting polling
15-24    place, the early voting clerk may require the voting to be
15-25    conducted at that location.
15-26          SECTION 29.  Section 112.006, Election Code, is amended to
15-27    read as follows:
 16-1          Sec. 112.006.  TIME AND PLACE FOR VOTING BY PERSONAL
 16-2    APPEARANCE.  A person may vote a limited ballot by personal
 16-3    appearance only at the main early voting polling place on the days
 16-4    and during the hours the main early voting polling place is open
 16-5    through 7 p.m. on election day.
 16-6          SECTION 30.  Section 127.006, Election Code, is amended by
 16-7    adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
 16-8          (e)  To the extent possible, clerks appointed under this
 16-9    section must be affiliated or aligned with different political
16-10    parties.
16-11          SECTION 31.  Sections 127.130(d) and (e), Election Code, are
16-12    amended to read as follows:
16-13          (d)  In [Subject to Subsection (e), in] any manual count
16-14    conducted under this code, a vote on a ballot on which a voter
16-15    indicates a vote by punching a hole in the ballot may not be
16-16    counted unless:
16-17                (1)  at least two corners of the chad are detached; or
16-18                (2)  light is visible through the hole[;]
16-19                [(3)  an indentation on the chad from the stylus or
16-20    other object is present and indicates a clearly ascertainable
16-21    intent of the voter to vote; or]
16-22                [(4)  the chad reflects by other means a clearly
16-23    ascertainable intent of the voter to vote].
16-24          [(e)  Subsection (d) does not supersede any clearly
16-25    ascertainable intent of the voter.]
16-26          SECTION 32.  Section 141.004, Election Code, is amended to
16-27    read as follows:
 17-1          Sec. 141.004.  EFFECT OF BOUNDARY CHANGE ON RESIDENCE
 17-2    REQUIREMENT FOR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION [CITY OFFICE].  In
 17-3    determining whether a person has complied with a residence
 17-4    requirement under Section 141.001 or 141.003 for an [a city] office
 17-5    of a political subdivision, residence in an area while the area was
 17-6    not part of the territory from which the office is elected [city]
 17-7    is considered as residence within the territory [city] if the area
 17-8    is part of the territory [city] on the date that is the basis for
 17-9    determining the applicable period of residence.
17-10          SECTION 33.  Sections 146.051 and 146.055, Election Code, are
17-11    amended to read as follows:
17-12          Sec. 146.051.  CANDIDATE'S NAME REQUIRED TO APPEAR ON LIST.
17-13    In an [a general] election for city officers, a write-in vote may
17-14    not be counted unless the name written in appears on the list of
17-15    write-in candidates.
17-16          Sec. 146.055.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER CODE PROVISIONS.
17-17    Subchapter B applies to write-in voting in an [a general] election
17-18    for city officers except to the extent of a conflict with this
17-19    subchapter.
17-20          SECTION 34.  Section 173.011(b), Election Code, is amended to
17-21    read as follows:
17-22          (b)  Any surplus remaining in a county primary fund shall be
17-23    remitted to the secretary of state [county clerk] immediately after
17-24    the final payment from the fund of the necessary expenses for
17-25    holding the primary elections for that year, but not later than
17-26    July 1 following the applicable primary election.  The surplus in
17-27    the primary fund shall be remitted regardless of whether state
 18-1    funds were requested by the chair.  [Any surplus primary funds
 18-2    received by the county clerk under this subsection may be used only
 18-3    for paying the remaining expenses of the joint primary election.]
 18-4          SECTION 35.  Section 212.001, Election Code, is amended to
 18-5    read as follows:
 18-6          Sec. 212.001.  GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOUNT DOCUMENT.  A
 18-7    recount document submitted under this title must:
 18-8                (1)  be in writing;
 18-9                (2)  identify the office or measure for which a recount
18-10    is desired;
18-11                (3)  state the grounds for the recount;
18-12                (4)  state the side of the measure that the person
18-13    requesting the recount represents, if applicable;
18-14                (5)  identify the election precincts, grouped by county
18-15    or other appropriate territorial unit if the election involves more
18-16    than one local canvassing authority, for which a recount is desired
18-17    and must indicate the method of voting used in each precinct;
18-18                (6)  be signed by:
18-19                      (A)  the person requesting the recount or, if
18-20    there is more than one, any one or more of them; or
18-21                      (B)  an agent of the person requesting the
18-22    recount;
18-23                (7)  state each requesting person's name, residence
18-24    address, and, if authorization to obtain the recount is based on
18-25    eligibility to vote in the election, voter registration number, and
18-26    county of registration if the election covers territory in more
18-27    than one county;
 19-1                (8)  designate an agent who is a resident of this state
 19-2    to receive notice under this title on behalf of the person
 19-3    requesting the recount if:
 19-4                      (A)  the person requesting the recount is not a
 19-5    resident of this state; or
 19-6                      (B)  there is more than one person requesting the
 19-7    recount;
 19-8                (9)  state the mailing address and at least one
 19-9    telephone number, if any, at which the person requesting the
19-10    recount or an agent, identified by name, may receive notice given
19-11    under this title; [and]
19-12                (10)  state the mailing address and at least one
19-13    telephone number, if any, at which the opposing candidates for the
19-14    office or their agents, identified by name, may receive notice
19-15    given under this title; and
19-16                (11)  be accompanied by a deposit as provided by
19-17    Subchapter E.
19-18          SECTION 36.  Section 212.088(a), Election Code, is amended to
19-19    read as follows:
19-20          (a)  If the deadline for submitting an expedited recount
19-21    petition falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday, the
19-22    deadline is extended to 5 p.m. [9 a.m.] of the next regular
19-23    business day.
19-24          SECTION 37.  Section 212.111(b), Election Code, is amended to
19-25    read as follows:
19-26          (b)  The [Except as provided by Subsection (c), the] deposit
19-27    must be in the form of cash or a cashier's check or money order
 20-1    made payable to the recount coordinator.
 20-2          SECTION 38.  Section 271.011, Election Code, is amended by
 20-3    adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
 20-4          (c)  If one of the elections to be jointly canvassed is the
 20-5    general election for state and county officers, the joint local
 20-6    canvass may be conducted on the regular date prescribed for the
 20-7    local canvass for the general election for state and county
 20-8    officers.
 20-9          SECTION 39.  Section 277.002(a), Election Code, is amended to
20-10    read as follows:
20-11          (a)  For a petition signature to be valid, a petition must:
20-12                (1)  contain in addition to the signature:
20-13                      (A)  the signer's printed name;
20-14                      (B)  the signer's date of birth [and the signer's
20-15    voter registration number] and, if the territory from which
20-16    signatures must be obtained is situated in more than one county,
20-17    the county of registration;
20-18                      (C)  the signer's residence address; and
20-19                      (D)  the date of signing; and
20-20                (2)  comply with any other applicable requirements
20-21    prescribed by law.
20-22          SECTION 40.  Sections 13.072(e), 15.026, and 212.111(c),
20-23    Election Code, are repealed.
20-24          SECTION 41.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
20-25          SECTION 42.  The importance of this legislation and the
20-26    crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
20-27    emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 21-1    constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 21-2    days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.