By Danburg                                            H.B. No. 3206
         76R7975 GGS-F                           
                                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 2.025, Election Code, is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 2.025.  RUNOFF ELECTION DAY.  (a)  Except as otherwise
 1-8     provided by this code [Subsection (b)], a runoff election shall be
 1-9     held not earlier than the 20th or later than the 45th [30th] day
1-10     after the date the final canvass of the main election is completed.
1-11           (b)  A runoff election date later than [may be held after]
1-12     the period prescribed by Subsection (a) may be prescribed by a
1-13     home-rule city charter [law but not later than the 45th day after
1-14     the date the final canvass of the main election is completed only
1-15     to:]
1-16                 [(1)  permit a joint runoff election to be held with
1-17     another political subdivision in accordance with Chapter 271; or]
1-18                 [(2)  avoid holding the runoff on:]
1-19                       [(A)  a legal state or national holiday; or]
1-20                       [(B)  a weekend day within three days of a legal
1-21     state or national holiday].
1-22           (c)  This section [Subsection (b)] supersedes a law outside
1-23     this subchapter to the extent of a conflict notwithstanding Section
1-24     2.022.
 2-1           SECTION 2.  Section 2.051(b), Election Code, is amended to
 2-2     read as follows:
 2-3           (b)  In the case of an election in which any members of the
 2-4     political subdivision's governing body are elected from territorial
 2-5     units such as single-member districts, this subchapter applies to
 2-6     the election in a particular territorial unit [single-member
 2-7     district] if[:]
 2-8                 [(1)]  each candidate whose name is to appear on the
 2-9     ballot in that territorial unit [district] is unopposed and no
2-10     at-large proposition or opposed at-large race is to appear on the
2-11     ballot.  This subchapter applies to an unopposed at-large race in
2-12     such an election regardless of whether an opposed race is to appear
2-13     on the ballot in a particular territorial unit[; and]
2-14                 [(2)  the requirements prescribed by Subsection (a) are
2-15     otherwise met].
2-16           SECTION 3.  Section 2.053(c), Election Code, is amended to
2-17     read as follows:
2-18           (c)  A certificate of election shall be issued to each
2-19     candidate in the same manner and at the same time as provided for a
2-20     candidate elected at the election. The candidate must qualify for
2-21     the office in the same manner as provided for a candidate elected
2-22     at the election.
2-23           SECTION 4.  Section 13.072(c), Election Code, is amended to
2-24     read as follows:
2-25           (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d) [or (e)], if the
2-26     registrar determines that an application does not comply with
2-27     Section 13.002 or does not indicate that the applicant is eligible
 3-1     for registration, the registrar shall reject the application.
 3-2           SECTION 5.  Section 13.073, Election Code, is amended by
 3-3     adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
 3-4           (c)  If the registrar rejects an application for
 3-5     incompleteness but receives a completed application not later than
 3-6     the 10th day after the date the notice is delivered under
 3-7     Subsection (a) or the date the incomplete application is returned
 3-8     under Subsection (b), as applicable, the original date of
 3-9     submission of the incomplete application is considered to be the
3-10     date of submission to the registrar for the purpose of determining
3-11     the effective date of registration.
3-12           SECTION 6.  Section 15.025, Election Code, is amended to read
3-13     as follows:
3-14           Sec. 15.025.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF CERTAIN CHANGES IN
3-15     REGISTRATION INFORMATION [IN PRECINCT OF NEW RESIDENCE].  (a)
3-16     Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (d), the [The]
3-17     registration of a voter described by this subsection whose
3-18     information [residence] is changed on the registration records [to
3-19     another county election precinct in the same county] becomes
3-20     effective as to the change [in the precinct of new residence] on
3-21     the 30th day after:
3-22                 (1)  the date the voter submits to the registrar
3-23     [receives] a notice of a change in registration information under
3-24     Section 15.021 or a [voter's] response under Section 15.053,
3-25     indicating the change [of residence]; or
3-26                 (2)  the date the voter submits a statement of
3-27     residence to an election officer under Section 63.0011 or a
 4-1     registration application or change of address to an agency employee
 4-2     under Chapter 20, indicating the change [of residence].
 4-3           (b)  A change in registration information covered by this
 4-4     section is effective for purposes of early voting if it will be
 4-5     effective on election day.
 4-6           (c)  For purposes of determining the effective date of a
 4-7     change in registration information covered by this section, a
 4-8     document submitted by mail is considered to be submitted to the
 4-9     registrar on the date it is placed with postage prepaid and
4-10     properly addressed in the United States mail. The date indicated by
4-11     the post office cancellation mark is considered to be the date the
4-12     document was placed in the mail unless proven otherwise.
4-13           (d)  If the 30th day before the date of an election is a
4-14     Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, the document
4-15     is considered to be timely if it is submitted to the registrar on
4-16     or before the next regular business day.
4-17           SECTION 7.  Sections 16.033(c) and (d), Election Code, are
4-18     amended to read as follows:
4-19           (c)  The notice must include:
4-20                 (1)  a request for information relevant to determining
4-21     the voter's eligibility for registration; and
4-22                 (2)  a warning that the voter's registration is subject
4-23     to cancellation if the registrar does not receive an appropriate
4-24     reply on or before the 30th [60th] day after the date the notice is
4-25     mailed.
4-26           (d)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), the registrar
4-27     shall cancel a voter's registration if:
 5-1                 (1)  after considering the voter's reply, the registrar
 5-2     determines that the voter is not eligible for registration;
 5-3                 (2)  no reply is received from the voter on or before
 5-4     the 30th [60th] day after the date the notice is mailed to the
 5-5     voter under Subsection (b); or
 5-6                 (3)  each notice mailed under Subsection (b) is
 5-7     returned undelivered to the registrar with no forwarding
 5-8     information available.
 5-9           SECTION 8.  Section 16.0332(a), Election Code, is amended to
5-10     read as follows:
5-11           (a)  After the registrar receives a list under  Section
5-12     62.113, Government Code, of persons excused or disqualified from
5-13     jury service because of citizenship status, the registrar shall
5-14     deliver to each registered voter who appears on the list a written
5-15     notice requiring the voter to provide proof of United States
5-16     citizenship in the form of a certified copy of the voter's birth
5-17     certificate, United States passport, or certificate of
5-18     naturalization or any other [a] form prescribed by the secretary of
5-19     state.  The notice shall be delivered by forwardable mail to the
5-20     mailing address on the voter's registration application and to any
5-21     new address of the voter known to the registrar.
5-22           SECTION 9.  Section 16.036(a), Election Code, is amended to
5-23     read as follows:
5-24           (a)  Immediately after cancellation of a voter's registration
5-25     under Section 16.031(a)(3), 16.033, [or] 16.0331, or 16.0332, the
5-26     registrar shall deliver written notice of the cancellation to the
5-27     voter.
 6-1           SECTION 10.  Section 19.001(a), Election Code, is amended to
 6-2     read as follows:
 6-3           (a)  Before May 15 of each year, the registrar shall prepare
 6-4     and submit to the comptroller of public accounts a statement
 6-5     containing:
 6-6                 (1)  the total number of initial registrations for the
 6-7     previous voting year;
 6-8                 (2)  the total number of registrations canceled under
 6-9     Sections 16.031(a)(1), [and] 16.033, and 16.0332 for the previous
6-10     voting year; and
6-11                 (3)  the total number of registrations for which
6-12     information was updated for the previous voting year.
6-13           SECTION 11.  Section 63.0101, Election Code, is amended to
6-14     read as follows:
6-15           Sec. 63.0101.  DOCUMENTATION OF PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION.  The
6-16     following documentation is acceptable as proof of identification
6-17     under this chapter:
6-18                 (1)  a driver's license or personal identification card
6-19     issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety or a
6-20     similar document issued to the person by an agency of another
6-21     state, regardless of whether the license or card has expired;
6-22                 (2)  a form of identification containing the person's
6-23     photograph that establishes the person's identity;
6-24                 (3)  a birth certificate or other document confirming
6-25     birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the
6-26     person's identity;
6-27                 (4)  United States citizenship papers issued to the
 7-1     person;
 7-2                 (5)  a United States passport issued to the person;
 7-3                 (6)  pre-printed checks containing the person's name
 7-4     that are issued for a financial institution doing business in this
 7-5     state;
 7-6                 (7)  official mail addressed to the person by name from
 7-7     a governmental entity;
 7-8                 (8)  two other forms of identification that establish
 7-9     the person's identity; [or]
7-10                 (9)  an affidavit executed by a person who is working
7-11     at the polling place that attests to the identity of the voter, if
7-12     the voter does not have documentation described by Subdivisions
7-13     (1)-(8) in the voter's possession at the polling place at the time
7-14     of offering to vote; or
7-15                 (10)  any other form of identification prescribed by
7-16     the secretary of state.
7-17           SECTION 12.  Section 84.032, Election Code, is amended by
7-18     amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
7-19     follows:
7-20           (b)  A request must:
7-21                 (1)  be in writing and signed by the applicant;
7-22                 (2)  specify the election for which the application was
7-23     made; and
7-24                 (3)  except as provided by Subsection (c), [or] (d), or
7-25     (e), be received by the early voting clerk:
7-26                       (A)  not later than the third day before election
7-27     day; and
 8-1                       (B)  if an early voting ballot sent to the
 8-2     applicant is returned to the clerk as a marked ballot, before the
 8-3     marked ballot's arrival at the address on the carrier envelope.
 8-4           (e)  An applicant may also submit a request at any time after
 8-5     the early voting ballot is returned to the early voting clerk as a
 8-6     marked ballot and before the ballot is delivered to the early
 8-7     voting ballot board by appearing in person and executing an
 8-8     affidavit that the applicant did not mark the ballot.
 8-9           SECTION 13.  Section 86.007(d), Election Code, is amended to
8-10     read as follows:
8-11           (d)  A marked ballot voted by mail that arrives after the
8-12     time prescribed by Subsection (a) shall be counted if:
8-13                 (1)  the ballot was cast from an address outside the
8-14     United States;
8-15                 (2)  the carrier envelope was placed for delivery
8-16     before the time the ballot is required to arrive under Subsection
8-17     (a); and
8-18                 (3)  the ballot arrives at the address on the carrier
8-19     envelope not later than:
8-20                       (A)  the fifth day after the date of the general
8-21     election for state and county officers; or
8-22                       (B)  the second day after the date of an election
8-23     other than the general election for state and county officers or
8-24     the fifth day after the date of a joint election if the political
8-25     subdivision's ballot is combined with the ballot for the general
8-26     election for state and county officers.
8-27           SECTION 14.  Section 87.0241, Election Code, is amended by
 9-1     amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
 9-2     follows:
 9-3           (b)  The board may not count early voting ballots until:
 9-4                 (1)  the polls open on election day; or
 9-5                 (2)  in an election conducted by an authority of a
 9-6     county with a population of 100,000 or more or conducted jointly
 9-7     with such a county, the end of the period for early voting by
 9-8     personal appearance.
 9-9           (c)  The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures
9-10     necessary for implementing this section in regard to elections
9-11     described by Subsection (b)(2).
9-12           SECTION 15.  Section 87.026, Election Code, is amended to
9-13     read as follows:
9-14           Sec. 87.026.  BYSTANDERS EXCLUDED.  Except as permitted by
9-15     this code, a person may not be in the meeting place of an early
9-16     voting ballot board or signature verification committee during the
9-17     time of the board's or committee's operations.
9-18           SECTION 16.  Section 87.027(f), Election Code, is amended to
9-19     read as follows:
9-20           (f)  The early voting clerk shall determine the place, day or
9-21     days, and hours of operation of the signature verification
9-22     committee and shall state that information in the order calling for
9-23     the committee's appointment.  A committee may not begin operating
9-24     before the 20th day before election day and may not continue
9-25     operating after 5 p.m. of the fourth day before election day unless
9-26     that period is extended by written order of the presiding judge of
9-27     the early voting ballot board.
 10-1          SECTION 17.  Section 87.0271(a), Election Code, is amended to
 10-2    read as follows:
 10-3          (a)  A signature verification committee shall be appointed in
 10-4    the general election for state and county officers [on receipt] by
 10-5    the early voting clerk on the submission of a written request for
 10-6    the committee [submitted] by at least 15 registered voters of the
 10-7    county.  The request must be submitted not later than the preceding
 10-8    October 1, and a request submitted by mail is considered to be
 10-9    submitted at the time of its receipt by the clerk.  Except as
10-10    provided by this section, Section 87.027 applies to the committee.
10-11          SECTION 18.  Section 87.041(b), Election Code, is amended to
10-12    read as follows:
10-13          (b)  A ballot may be accepted only if:
10-14                (1)  the carrier envelope certificate is properly
10-15    executed;
10-16                (2)  neither the voter's signature on the ballot
10-17    application nor the signature on the carrier envelope certificate
10-18    is determined to have been executed by a person other than the
10-19    voter, unless signed by a witness;
10-20                (3)  the voter's ballot application states a legal
10-21    ground for early voting by mail;
10-22                (4)  the voter is registered to vote, if registration
10-23    is required by law;
10-24                (5)  the address to which the ballot was mailed to the
10-25    voter, as indicated by the application, was outside the voter's
10-26    county of residence, if the ground for early voting is absence from
10-27    the county of residence; [and]
 11-1                (6)  for a voter to whom a statement of residence form
 11-2    was required to be sent under Section 86.002(a), the statement of
 11-3    residence is returned in the carrier envelope and indicates that
 11-4    the voter satisfies the residence requirements prescribed by
 11-5    Section 63.0011; and
 11-6                (7)  the address to which the ballot was mailed to the
 11-7    voter is an address that is otherwise required by Sections 84.002
 11-8    and 86.003.
 11-9          SECTION 19.  Section 87.0431, Election Code, is amended to
11-10    read as follows:
11-11          Sec. 87.0431.  NOTICE OF REJECTED BALLOT.  (a)  Not later
11-12    than the 10th day after election day, the presiding judge of the
11-13    early voting ballot board shall deliver written notice of the
11-14    reason for the rejection of a ballot to the voter at the residence
11-15    address on the ballot application.
11-16          (b)  An original or copy of the notice is not available for
11-17    public inspection until the early voting election returns are
11-18    delivered to the general custodian of election records after the
11-19    election.
11-20          SECTION 20.  Section 87.1231, Election Code, is amended to
11-21    read as follows:
11-22          Sec. 87.1231.  EARLY VOTING VOTES REPORTED BY PRECINCT.
11-23    [(a)]  Not later than the time of the local canvass, the early
11-24    voting clerk shall deliver to the local canvassing authority a
11-25    report of the total number of early voting votes for each candidate
11-26    or measure by election precinct. The report may reflect the total
11-27    for votes by mail and the total for votes by personal appearance.
 12-1          [(b)  The early voting clerk may not report vote totals under
 12-2    Subsection (a) for an election precinct in which fewer than five
 12-3    votes are cast during the early voting period.]
 12-4          SECTION 21.  Section 87.125(a), Election Code, is amended to
 12-5    read as follows:
 12-6          (a)  The early voting ballot board shall convene to count
 12-7    ballots voted by mail described by Section 86.007(d) at the time
 12-8    set by the presiding judge of the board [on]:
 12-9                (1)  on the sixth day after the date of a general
12-10    election for state and county officers; [or]
12-11                (2)  on the second [fifth] day after the date of a
12-12    primary [or special] election, at a time following the last mail
12-13    delivery, or on an earlier day or at an earlier time if the early
12-14    voting clerk certifies that all ballots mailed from outside the
12-15    United States have been received; or
12-16                (3)  not earlier than the third day or later than the
12-17    fifth day after the date of an election other than an election
12-18    described by Subdivision (1) or (2).
12-19          SECTION 22.  Subchapter G, Chapter 87, Election Code, is
12-20    amended by adding Sections 87.126 and 87.127 to read as follows:
12-21          Sec. 87.126.  UNLAWFULLY DIVULGING VOTE.  (a)  A person
12-22    commits an offense if the person was at the meeting place of an
12-23    early voting ballot board or signature verification committee for
12-24    any purpose and knowingly communicates to another person
12-25    information that the person obtained at the meeting place of the
12-26    board or committee about how a voter has voted.
12-27          (b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third
 13-1    degree.
 13-2          (c)  This section does not apply to information presented in
 13-3    an official investigation or other official proceeding in which the
 13-4    information is relevant.
 13-5          Sec. 87.127.  UNLAWFULLY REVEALING INFORMATION BEFORE POLLS
 13-6    CLOSE.  (a)  A person serving at the meeting place of an early
 13-7    voting ballot board or signature verification committee in an
 13-8    official capacity commits an offense if, before the polls close on
 13-9    election day, the person reveals any of the following information
13-10    that the person obtained at the meeting place of the board or
13-11    committee:
13-12                (1)  the number of votes that have been received for a
13-13    candidate or for or against a measure;
13-14                (2)  a candidate's position relative to other
13-15    candidates in the tabulation of the votes;
13-16                (3)  whether a measure is passing or failing;
13-17                (4)  the names of persons who have or have not voted in
13-18    the election; or
13-19                (5)  any determination about a voter's balloting
13-20    materials made by the board or committee under Section 87.027 or
13-21    87.041.
13-22          (b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
13-23          SECTION 23.  Section 88.004, Election Code, is amended by
13-24    adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
13-25          (d)  An original or copy of the notice is not available for
13-26    public inspection until the early voting election returns are
13-27    delivered to the general custodian of election records after the
 14-1    election.
 14-2          SECTION 24.  Section 102.003(b), Election Code, is amended to
 14-3    read as follows:
 14-4          (b)  An application may be submitted after the last day of
 14-5    the period for early voting by personal appearance and before 5 [2]
 14-6    p.m.  on election day.
 14-7          SECTION 25.  Section 104.003, Election Code, is amended to
 14-8    read as follows:
 14-9          Sec. 104.003.  TIME AND PLACE FOR VOTING.  Voting under this
14-10    chapter shall be conducted on election day, beginning at 7 [8] a.m.
14-11    and concluding at 7 [2] p.m., at the main early voting polling
14-12    place[, except that the voting shall begin at 7 a.m. and conclude
14-13    at 7 p.m. in an election in which mechanical voting machines are
14-14    used].  However, if the early voting ballots voted by mail are
14-15    processed at a location other than the main early voting polling
14-16    place, the early voting clerk may require the voting to be
14-17    conducted at that location.
14-18          SECTION 26.  Section 112.006, Election Code, is amended to
14-19    read as follows:
14-20          Sec. 112.006.  TIME AND PLACE FOR VOTING BY PERSONAL
14-21    APPEARANCE.  A person may vote a limited ballot by personal
14-22    appearance only at the main early voting polling place on the days
14-23    and during the hours the main early voting polling place is open
14-24    through 7 p.m. on election day.
14-25          SECTION 27.  Section 141.004, Election Code, is amended to
14-26    read as follows:
14-27          Sec. 141.004.  EFFECT OF BOUNDARY CHANGE ON RESIDENCE
 15-1    REQUIREMENT FOR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION [CITY OFFICE].  In
 15-2    determining whether a person has complied with a residence
 15-3    requirement under Section 141.001 or 141.003 for an [a city] office
 15-4    of a political subdivision, residence in an area while the area was
 15-5    not part of the territory from which the office is elected [city]
 15-6    is considered as residence within the territory [city] if the area
 15-7    is part of the territory [city] on the date that is the basis for
 15-8    determining the applicable period of residence.
 15-9          SECTION 28.  Sections 146.051 and 146.055, Election Code, are
15-10    amended to read as follows:
15-11          Sec. 146.051.  CANDIDATE'S NAME REQUIRED TO APPEAR ON LIST.
15-12    In an [a general] election for city officers, a write-in vote may
15-13    not be counted unless the name written in appears on the list of
15-14    write-in candidates.
15-15          Sec. 146.055.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER CODE PROVISIONS.
15-16    Subchapter B applies to write-in voting in an [a general] election
15-17    for city officers except to the extent of a conflict with this
15-18    subchapter.
15-19          SECTION 29.  Section 172.126(c), Election Code, is amended to
15-20    read as follows:
15-21          (c)  One set of election officers shall conduct the primary
15-22    elections at each polling place.  Not later than the second Monday
15-23    in December preceding the primary elections, each county chair
15-24    shall deliver to the county clerk a list of the names of the
15-25    election judges and clerks for that party.  The presiding judge of
15-26    each party, or alternate judge if applicable, serves as a co-judge
15-27    for the precinct.  If a party's co-judge for the precinct cannot
 16-1    serve and the vacancy is not filled by the party, that precinct
 16-2    must be consolidated with another precinct so that each party has a
 16-3    co-judge for the consolidated precinct.  The county clerk shall
 16-4    appoint the election clerks in accordance with rules prescribed by
 16-5    the secretary of state.  The secretary of state shall prescribe the
 16-6    maximum number of clerks that may be appointed for each precinct.
 16-7    The early voting ballot board and any central counting station
 16-8    shall also be composed of and administered by one set of election
 16-9    officers that provides representation for each party, and the
16-10    secretary of state by rule shall prescribe procedures consistent
16-11    with this subsection for the appointment of those officers.
16-12          SECTION 30.  Section 173.011(b), Election Code, is amended to
16-13    read as follows:
16-14          (b)  Any surplus remaining in a county primary fund shall be
16-15    remitted to the secretary of state [county clerk] immediately after
16-16    the final payment from the fund of the necessary expenses for
16-17    holding the primary elections for that year, but not later than
16-18    July 1 following the applicable primary election.  The surplus in
16-19    the primary fund shall be remitted regardless of whether state
16-20    funds were requested by the chair.  [Any surplus primary funds
16-21    received by the county clerk under this subsection may be used only
16-22    for paying the remaining expenses of the joint primary election.]
16-23          SECTION 31.  Section 212.001, Election Code, is amended to
16-24    read as follows:
16-25          Sec. 212.001.  GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOUNT DOCUMENT.  A
16-26    recount document submitted under this title must:
16-27                (1)  be in writing;
 17-1                (2)  identify the office or measure for which a recount
 17-2    is desired;
 17-3                (3)  state the grounds for the recount;
 17-4                (4)  state the side of the measure that the person
 17-5    requesting the recount represents, if applicable;
 17-6                (5)  identify the election precincts, grouped by county
 17-7    or other appropriate territorial unit if the election involves more
 17-8    than one local canvassing authority, for which a recount is desired
 17-9    and must indicate the method of voting used in each precinct;
17-10                (6)  be signed by:
17-11                      (A)  the person requesting the recount or, if
17-12    there is more than one, any one or more of them; or
17-13                      (B)  an agent of the person requesting the
17-14    recount;
17-15                (7)  state each requesting person's name, residence
17-16    address, and, if authorization to obtain the recount is based on
17-17    eligibility to vote in the election, voter registration number, and
17-18    county of registration if the election covers territory in more
17-19    than one county;
17-20                (8)  designate an agent who is a resident of this state
17-21    to receive notice under this title on behalf of the person
17-22    requesting the recount if:
17-23                      (A)  the person requesting the recount is not a
17-24    resident of this state; or
17-25                      (B)  there is more than one person requesting the
17-26    recount;
17-27                (9)  state the mailing address and at least one
 18-1    telephone number, if any, at which the person requesting the
 18-2    recount or an agent, identified by name, may receive notice given
 18-3    under this title; [and]
 18-4                (10)  state the mailing address and at least one
 18-5    telephone number, if any, at which the opposing candidates for the
 18-6    office or their agents, identified by name, may receive notice
 18-7    given under this title; and
 18-8                (11)  be accompanied by a deposit as provided by
 18-9    Subchapter E.
18-10          SECTION 32.  Section 212.088(a), Election Code, is amended to
18-11    read as follows:
18-12          (a)  If the deadline for submitting an expedited recount
18-13    petition falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday, the
18-14    deadline is extended to 5 p.m. [9 a.m.] of the next regular
18-15    business day.
18-16          SECTION 33.  Section 212.111(b), Election Code, is amended to
18-17    read as follows:
18-18          (b)  The [Except as provided by Subsection (c), the] deposit
18-19    must be in the form of cash or a cashier's check or money order
18-20    made payable to the recount coordinator.
18-21          SECTION 34.  Section 271.011, Election Code, is amended by
18-22    adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
18-23          (c)  If one of the elections to be jointly canvassed is the
18-24    general election for state and county officers, the joint local
18-25    canvass may be conducted on the regular date prescribed for the
18-26    local canvass for the general election for state and county
18-27    officers.
 19-1          SECTION 35.  Section 277.002(a), Election Code, is amended to
 19-2    read as follows:
 19-3          (a)  For a petition signature to be valid, a petition must:
 19-4                (1)  contain in addition to the signature:
 19-5                      (A)  the signer's printed name;
 19-6                      (B)  the signer's date of birth [and the signer's
 19-7    voter registration number] and, if the territory from which
 19-8    signatures must be obtained is situated in more than one county,
 19-9    the county of registration;
19-10                      (C)  the signer's residence address; and
19-11                      (D)  the date of signing; and
19-12                (2)  comply with any other applicable requirements
19-13    prescribed by law.
19-14          SECTION 36.  Sections 13.072(e), 15.026, and 212.111(c),
19-15    Election Code, are repealed.
19-16          SECTION 37.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
19-17          SECTION 38.  The importance of this legislation and the
19-18    crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
19-19    emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
19-20    constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
19-21    days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.