By Madden H.J.R. No. 47 77R4270 DRH-D A JOINT RESOLUTION 1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the cancellation 1-2 of an election to fill a vacancy in the legislature when a 1-3 candidate is running unopposed. 1-4 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 13, Article III, Texas Constitution, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 13. (a) When vacancies occur in either House, the 1-8 Governor, or the person exercising the power of the Governor, shall 1-9 issue writs of election to fill such vacancies; and should the 1-10 Governor fail to issue a writ of election to fill any such vacancy 1-11 within twenty days after it occurs, the returning officer of the 1-12 district in which such vacancy may have happened, shall be 1-13 authorized to order an election for that purpose. 1-14 (b) The legislature may provide by general law for the 1-15 filling of a vacancy in the legislature without an election if 1-16 only one person qualifies as a candidate in an election to fill the 1-17 vacancy. 1-18 SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 1-19 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001. 1-20 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 1-21 proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the filling 1-22 of a vacancy in the legislature without an election if a candidate 1-23 is running unopposed in an election to fill the vacancy."