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78R5569 JRJ-D

By:  Madden                                                       H.B. No. 1601



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain regulations and procedures for early voting.              
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Sections 85.036(a) and (d), Election Code, are 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  During [Except as provided by Subsection (b), during]  
the time an early voting polling place is open for the conduct of 
early voting, a person may not electioneer for or against any 
candidate, measure, or political party in or within 100 feet of an 
outside door through which a voter may enter [a certain distance 
from] the building or structure in which the early voting polling 
place is located[, as follows:
		[(1)  for a building containing the main early voting 
polling place, a person may not electioneer in the room in which the 
polling place is located or within 30 feet of the entrance to the 
room in which the polling place is located;
		[(2)  for a building that is also used as a precinct 
polling place, a person may not electioneer within 100 feet of an 
outside door through which a voter may enter the building in which 
the polling place is located;  and
		[(3)  for any other structure, a person may not 
electioneer within 30 feet of the entrance to the voting area].
	(d)  A person commits an offense if the person electioneers 
in violation of Subsection (a) [or (b)].
	SECTION 2.  Section 85.069, Election Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as 
follows:
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the [The] 
composition of the set of election officers serving a branch 
polling place must provide representation for each political party 
conducting a primary election in the county.
	(c)  For the general election for state and county officers 
and for a special election to fill a vacancy in an office regularly 
filled at the general election for state and county officers, the 
composition of the set of election officers serving a branch 
polling place who are not employees of the county must, to the 
extent practicable, provide equal representation for each 
political party conducting a primary election in the county.
	SECTION 3.  Sections 85.036(b) and (f), Election Code, are 
repealed.         
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.