| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
| |
|
|
relating to holding a primary election for a political party in a |
|
|
county without party leadership. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 172.128, Election Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 172.128. ALTERNATIVE PRIMARY PROCEDURE FOR COUNTIES |
|
|
WITHOUT COUNTY PARTY LEADERSHIP. (a) Notwithstanding a |
|
|
conflicting provision of this code, [This section applies only to] |
|
|
a primary election that is required for the nomination of a |
|
|
political party to a statewide office or a presidential primary |
|
|
election shall be held in accordance with this section in a county |
|
|
in which: |
|
|
(1) the office of county chair is vacant and there is |
|
|
an insufficient number of members serving on the county executive |
|
|
committee to fill a vacancy on the committee; and |
|
|
(2) the party is unable to establish a temporary |
|
|
executive committee under Section 171.027. |
|
|
(b) On request of the [The] state chair of a political |
|
|
party, [may contract with] a county clerk, county tax |
|
|
assessor-collector, or county elections administrator, as |
|
|
appropriate, shall contract with the state chair to hold a primary |
|
|
election under this section [in a county in which:
|
|
|
[(1)
the office of county chair is vacant and there is
|
|
|
an insufficient number of members serving on the county executive
|
|
|
committee to fill a vacancy on the committee; and
|
|
|
[(2)
the party is unable to establish a temporary
|
|
|
executive committee under Section 171.027]. |
|
|
(c) The county may designate the location of the polling |
|
|
place for an election held under this section at the main early |
|
|
voting polling place or designate a location to serve as a polling |
|
|
place in the county seat of the county if the polling place is |
|
|
located so that it will adequately serve the voters. |
|
|
(d) Voting shall be conducted at least during the hours that |
|
|
the county clerk's main business office is regularly open for |
|
|
business. |
|
|
(e) The election returns for an election held under this |
|
|
section shall be delivered to the state chair of the applicable |
|
|
political party. |
|
|
(f) A precinct convention is not required to be held |
|
|
following a primary election conducted under this section. |
|
|
(g) A contract for election services entered into under this |
|
|
section shall provide that the county shall be eligible to be |
|
|
reimbursed for primary election expenses in the same manner a |
|
|
county chair would be reimbursed under Subchapter D, Chapter 173. |
|
|
(h) Election officers appointed to serve a polling place for |
|
|
a primary election conducted under this section may be affiliated |
|
|
or aligned with any political party. |
|
|
(i) The secretary of state shall adopt rules to implement |
|
|
this section in accordance with the conduct of elections and with |
|
|
party rule. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |