78R6265 DRH-D

By:  Staples                                                      S.B. No. 1644



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the early voting clerk of an election in which the 
county clerk is a candidate.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 83.002, Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows:    
	Sec. 83.002.  COUNTY CLERK AS EARLY VOTING CLERK.  (a)  
Except as provided by Subsection (b), the [The] county clerk is the 
early voting clerk for the county in:
		(1)  the general election for state and county officers 
and any other countywide election held at county expense;
		(2)  a primary election;  and                                                 
		(3)  a special election ordered by the governor.                              
	(b)  Not later than the 65th day before the date of the 
election, the commissioners court shall appoint one of the county 
clerk's permanent deputies to serve as the early voting clerk in an 
election in which the county clerk is:
		(1)  designated as the early voting clerk for the 
county under Subsection (a); and
		(2)  a candidate for an office for which more than one 
name appears on the ballot for election to that office.
	(c)  If an appointment is made under Subsection (b), a 
reference in this title to the county clerk in relation to early 
voting in an election to which Subsection (b) applies means the 
person appointed by the commissioners court under Subsection (b).
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.