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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the submission of certain election changes under |
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Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) For the purpose of obtaining preclearance |
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under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended (42 |
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U.S.C. Section 1973c), the attorney general shall institute an |
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action in the United States District Court for the District of |
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Columbia for a declaratory judgment that any change in the |
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following laws that affects voting has neither the purpose nor will |
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have the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account |
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of race or color or in contravention of the guarantees set forth in |
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42 U.S.C. Section 1973b(f)(2): |
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(1) an Act of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, |
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2011, relating to presenting proof of identification as a |
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requirement to vote; and |
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(2) a plan to apportion the state into districts used |
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to elect: |
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(A) members of the senate or the house of |
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representatives; |
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(B) members of the United States House of |
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Representatives from this state; and |
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(C) members of the State Board of Education. |
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(b) This section expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |