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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority to conduct a runoff primary election by |
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mail in certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 172, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 172.129 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 172.129. VOTING BY MAIL IN CERTAIN RUNOFF PRIMARY |
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ELECTIONS. (a) The state chair of a political party may by order |
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require a runoff primary election to be conducted in a county only |
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by mail if: |
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(1) fewer than 50 votes were cast in the county in the |
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party's general primary election; and |
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(2) a runoff election is required in the county only |
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for statewide offices or district offices filled by voters of more |
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than one county. |
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(b) If the state chair of the political party requires the |
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conduct of a runoff primary election only by mail, the state chair |
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shall send the order to the county clerk not later than the fifth |
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day after the local canvass is completed. |
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(c) The county clerk shall provide an official ballot in the |
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manner provided by Chapter 86 to each registered voter in a county |
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who: |
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(1) voted in the party's general primary election; or |
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(2) requests in writing a ballot for the runoff |
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primary election and is otherwise eligible to vote in the election. |
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(d) The county clerk shall be reimbursed for costs of |
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conducting the runoff election by mail from the same funds that |
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would provide for a runoff primary election by personal appearance. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |