BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 578

By: Duncan

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Pursuant to the Election Code, a county may apply with the secretary of state to implement a program to establish countywide polling places for elections held on the uniform election dates in May and November.  S.B. 578 amends the Election Code to allow for the use of countywide polling places for a primary election and runoff primary election.

S.B. 578 amends current law relating to use of countywide polling places for certain elections.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 43.004, Election Code, by adding Subsection (c), as follows:

(c) Authorizes the governing body of a political subdivision, if the political subdivision holds an election jointly with an election described by Section 43.007(a)(1), (2), (3), or (4) and is required to use countywide polling places under Section 43.007, to designate as the polling places for any required runoff election only the polling places located in the territory or in and near the territory of the political subdivision where eligible voters reside. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 43.007(a), Election Code, as follows:

(a) Requires the secretary of state to implement a countywide polling place program to allow each commissioners court participating in the program to eliminate county election precinct polling places and establish countywide polling places for:

(1) each general election for state and county officers;

(2) each election held on the uniform election date in May;

(3) each election on a proposed constitutional amendment;

(4) each primary election and runoff primary election if:

(A) the county chair or county executive committee of each political party participating in a joint primary election under Section 172.126 (Joint Primaries Authorized) agrees to the use of countywide polling places; or

(B) the county chair or county executive committee of each political party required to nominate candidates by primary election agrees to use the same countywide polling places; and

(5) each election of a political subdivision located in the county that is held jointly with an election described by Subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4).

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2013.

EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2013.