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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to use of countywide polling places for certain elections. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 43.004, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) If a political subdivision holds an election jointly |
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with an election described by Section 43.007(a)(1), (2), (3), or |
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(4) and is required to use countywide polling places under Section |
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43.007, the governing body of the political subdivision may |
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designate as the polling places for any required runoff election |
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only the polling places located in the territory or in and near the |
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territory of the political subdivision where eligible voters |
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reside. |
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SECTION 2. Section 43.007(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The secretary of state shall implement a program to |
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allow each commissioners court participating in the program to |
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eliminate county election precinct polling places and establish |
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countywide polling places for: |
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(1) each general election for state and county |
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officers; |
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(2) each election held on the uniform election date in |
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May; |
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(3) each election on a proposed constitutional |
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amendment; [and] |
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(4) each primary election and runoff primary election |
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if: |
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(A) the county chair or county executive |
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committee of each political party participating in a joint primary |
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election under Section 172.126 agrees to the use of countywide |
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polling places; or |
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(B) the county chair or county executive |
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committee of each political party required to nominate candidates |
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by primary election agrees to use the same countywide polling |
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places; and |
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(5) each election of a political subdivision located |
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in the county that is held jointly with an election described by |
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Subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4) [(3)]. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |