79R1308 DRH-D

By:  Goodman                                                      H.B. No. 208



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the location of a polling place for a primary election.           
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 43.003, Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows:    
	Sec. 43.003.  DESIGNATION OF LOCATION:  PRIMARY ELECTION.  
(a)  The county chair of each [a] political party holding a primary 
election shall jointly designate one [the] location for [of] the 
polling place of [for] each election precinct in the primary unless 
the precinct is one that is consolidated.  In that case, the county 
executive committees [committee] shall jointly designate the 
location.
	(b)  If the entities described in Subsection (a) are unable 
to agree on the location of a polling place:
		(1)  the county clerk shall designate the location of 
the polling place; and 
		(2)  the appropriate entities may submit 
recommendations to the county clerk on the location of each polling 
place for which the entities were unable to agree.
	(c)  To the extent possible, a polling place designated under 
this section must accommodate the precinct conventions of each 
political party.  If a polling place, whether for a regular or 
consolidated precinct, is not suitable for more than one precinct 
convention, the polling place may be used by the party whose 
candidate for governor received the most votes in the county in the 
most recent gubernatorial general election.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.