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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the hours during which the polls are open on election |
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day and conforming changes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 41.031(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Section 41.033, the polls shall be |
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opened at 7 a.m. for voting and shall be closed at 9 [7] p.m. |
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SECTION 2. Section 41.032(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A voter who has not voted before the time for closing the |
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polls is entitled to vote after that time if the voter is inside or |
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waiting to enter the polling place at 9 [7] p.m. |
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SECTION 3. Section 41.033, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 41.033. EARLY CLOSING OF CERTAIN POLLS. |
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Notwithstanding Section 41.031(a), an entity created under Section |
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52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, |
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may close the polls before 9 [7] p.m. in an election held by the |
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entity if: |
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(1) the entity has fewer than 50 qualified voters; and |
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(2) the number of ballots cast in the election equals |
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the number of qualified voters. |
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SECTION 4. Section 68.034(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The county clerk shall transmit the complete or partial |
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results of the early voting for the appropriate races at 9 [7] p.m. |
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on election day. If only partial results are available, the results |
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shall be transmitted periodically until complete. |
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SECTION 5. Section 104.003, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 104.003. TIME AND PLACE FOR VOTING. Voting under this |
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chapter shall be conducted on election day, beginning at 7 a.m. and |
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concluding at 9 [7] p.m., at the main early voting polling place. |
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However, if the early voting ballots voted by mail are processed at |
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a location other than the main early voting polling place, the early |
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voting clerk may require the voting to be conducted at that |
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location. |
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SECTION 6. Section 162.008(a), Election Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) This section applies only to a person desiring to |
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affiliate with a political party during that part of a voting year |
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in which the general election for state and county officers is held |
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that follows: |
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(1) the date of the precinct conventions held under |
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this title, for a party nominating by convention; or |
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(2) 9 [7] p.m. on general primary election day, for a |
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party holding a primary election. |
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SECTION 7. Section 174.022(c), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) The hour set for convening the conventions may not be |
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earlier than 9 [7] p.m. or later than 11 [9] p.m. Notwithstanding |
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the hour set for convening, the convention may not convene until the |
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last voter has voted at the precinct polling place. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |