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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to electioneering conducted near a polling place. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 61.003, Election Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.003. ELECTIONEERING AND LOITERING NEAR POLLING |
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PLACE [PROHIBITED]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.003, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-1) The entity that owns or controls a public building |
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being used as a polling place may not, at any time during the voting |
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period, prohibit electioneering on the building's premises outside |
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of the area described in Subsection (a), but may enact reasonable |
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regulations concerning the time, place, and manner of |
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electioneering. |
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(b) In this section: |
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(1) "Electioneering" includes the posting, use, or |
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distribution of political signs or literature. |
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(2) "Voting [, "voting] period" means the period |
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beginning when the polls open for voting and ending when the polls |
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close or the last voter has voted, whichever is later. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 85.036, Election Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 85.036. ELECTIONEERING [PROHIBITED]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 85.036, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (b) and (f) to read as follows: |
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(b) The entity that owns or controls a public building being |
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used as an early voting polling place may not, at any time during |
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the early voting period, prohibit electioneering on the building's |
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premises outside of the area described in Subsection (a), but may |
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enact reasonable regulations concerning the time, place, and manner |
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of electioneering. |
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(f) In this section: |
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(1) "Early voting period" means the period prescribed |
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by Section 85.001. |
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(2) "Electioneering" includes the posting, use, or |
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distribution of political signs or literature. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2013. |