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.