By: Duncan  S.B. No. 578
         (In the Senate - Filed February 14, 2013; February 20, 2013,
  read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
  March 20, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; March 20, 2013,
  sent to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 578 By:  Duncan
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to use of countywide polling places for certain elections.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 43.004, Election Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  If a 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, the governing body of the political subdivision may
  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.  Subsection (a), Section 43.007, Election Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The secretary of state shall implement a 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; [and]
               (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 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) [(3)].
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
  * * * * *