85R1247 SRS-D

By: Keough H.B. No. 288

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the early voting period.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 85.001(a) and (e), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The period for early voting by personal appearance begins on the 10th [17th] day before election day and continues through the second [fourth] day before election day, except as otherwise provided by this section.

(e) For an election held on the uniform election date in May and any resulting runoff election, the period for early voting by personal appearance begins on the seventh [12th] day before election day and continues through the second [fourth] day before election day.

SECTION 2. Sections 85.005(c) and (d), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(c) In a county with a population of 100,000 or more, the voting in a primary election or the general election for state and county officers shall be conducted at the main early voting polling place for at least 12 hours on each weekday [of the last week] of the early voting period, and the voting in a special election ordered by the governor shall be conducted at the main early voting polling place for at least 12 hours on each of the last two days of the early voting period. Voting shall be conducted in accordance with this subsection in those elections in a county with a population under 100,000 on receipt by the early voting clerk of a written request for the extended hours submitted by at least 15 registered voters of the county. The request must be submitted in time to enable compliance with Section 85.067.

(d) In an election ordered by a city, early voting by personal appearance at the main early voting polling place shall be conducted for at least 12 hours[:

[(1)] on one weekday[, if the early voting period consists of less than six weekdays; or

[(2) on two weekdays, if the early voting period consists of six or more weekdays].

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.