By Lindsay S.B. No. 718
76R4632 DRH-F
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. Sections 41.007(a) and (b), Election Code, are
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (a) The general primary election date is the first [second]
1-8 Tuesday after the second Monday in September [in March] in each
1-9 even-numbered year.
1-10 (b) The runoff primary election date is the first [second]
1-11 Tuesday in October [April] following the general primary election.
1-12 SECTION 2. Section 172.023(a), Election Code, is amended to
1-13 read as follows:
1-14 (a) An application for a place on the general primary
1-15 election ballot must be filed not later than 6 p.m. on July 1
1-16 [January 2] in the primary election year unless the filing deadline
1-17 is extended under Subchapter C.
1-18 SECTION 3. Section 181.0041, Election Code, is amended to
1-19 read as follows:
1-20 Sec. 181.0041. REGISTRATION OF PARTY REQUIRED. A political
1-21 party that intends to make nominations under this chapter for the
1-22 general election for state and county officers must register with
1-23 the secretary of state, in the manner prescribed by the secretary,
1-24 not later than the regular filing deadline for candidates in the
2-1 general primary election [January 2 of the election year].
2-2 SECTION 4. Section 181.033(a), Election Code, is amended to
2-3 read as follows:
2-4 (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an application for
2-5 nomination by a convention must be filed not later than the regular
2-6 filing deadline for candidates in the general primary election [5
2-7 p.m. on January 2 preceding the convention].
2-8 SECTION 5. Sections 181.061(b) and (c), Election Code, are
2-9 amended to read as follows:
2-10 (b) A party nominating by convention must make its
2-11 nominations for offices of districts situated in more than one
2-12 county at district conventions held on the second Saturday after
2-13 general primary election day [the second Tuesday in March]. A
2-14 district convention consists of delegates selected at the county
2-15 conventions held under Subsection (c).
2-16 (c) A party nominating by convention must make its
2-17 nominations for county and precinct offices and for offices of
2-18 districts not situated in more than one county at county
2-19 conventions held on the first Saturday after general primary
2-20 election day [the second Tuesday in March]. A county convention
2-21 consists of delegates selected at precinct conventions held on
2-22 general primary election day [the second Tuesday in March] in the
2-23 regular county election precincts.
2-24 SECTION 6. Section 182.005, Election Code, is amended to
2-25 read as follows:
2-26 Sec. 182.005. NOMINATIONS MADE BY COUNTY CONVENTION. A
2-27 political party must make its nominations under this chapter at a
3-1 county convention held on the first Saturday after general primary
3-2 election day [the second Tuesday in March of the election year].
3-3 The convention consists of delegates selected at precinct
3-4 conventions held on general primary election day [the second
3-5 Tuesday in March] in the regular county election precincts.
3-6 SECTION 7. Sections 191.004(a) and (c), Election Code, are
3-7 amended to read as follows:
3-8 (a) [A single ballot shall be used for the presidential
3-9 primary election and general primary election.] The secretary of
3-10 state shall prescribe the form of the presidential primary election
3-11 ballot[, which must accommodate the regular form for the general
3-12 primary election to the extent practicable].
3-13 (c) A drawing to determine the order in which the
3-14 presidential candidates' names are printed on the ballot in the
3-15 county shall be conducted in accordance with procedures prescribed
3-16 by the secretary of state [conjunction with the regular drawing for
3-17 position on the general primary election ballot]. "Uncommitted"
3-18 shall be printed on the ballot following the candidates' names, if
3-19 applicable.
3-20 SECTION 8. Section 191.005, Election Code, is amended to
3-21 read as follows:
3-22 Sec. 191.005. PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCT OF PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
3-23 GENERALLY. (a) [The presidential primary election shall be held
3-24 in conjunction with the party's general primary election.]
3-25 [(b)] Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, the
3-26 presidential primary election shall be conducted and the results
3-27 canvassed, tabulated, and reported in accordance with the
4-1 procedures prescribed by this code in relation to the general
4-2 primary election to the extent those procedures can be made
4-3 applicable.
4-4 (b) [(c)] The secretary of state shall prescribe any
4-5 additional procedures necessary for the orderly and proper
4-6 administration of the presidential primary election.
4-7 SECTION 9. The term of a person who is serving as a county
4-8 or precinct chair of a political party on the effective date of
4-9 this Act ends on the 20th day after the first Tuesday in October
4-10 2000.
4-11 SECTION 10. The secretary of state by rule shall modify
4-12 applicable procedures, dates, and deadlines in the Election Code to
4-13 implement the changes in primary election dates made by this Act
4-14 and to ensure the orderly and proper administration of the general
4-15 election for state and county officers.
4-16 SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
4-17 SECTION 12. The importance of this legislation and the
4-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.