| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the submission of election changes under Section 5 of |
|
|
the Voting Rights Act of 1965. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. (a) The secretary of state, attorney general, or |
|
|
other state officer shall submit any change in election process or |
|
|
procedure enacted by an Act of the 82nd Legislature, Regular |
|
|
Session, 2011, that is required to be submitted under Section 5 of |
|
|
the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 1973c), |
|
|
to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to |
|
|
determine whether the change has the purpose or effect of denying or |
|
|
abridging the right to vote on account of race or color or in |
|
|
contravention of the guarantees set forth in 42 U.S.C. Section |
|
|
1973b(f)(2). |
|
|
(b) This section expires September 1, 2013. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |