85R9499 SRS-D

By: Fallon H.B. No. 3994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to jointly held elections for political subdivisions.

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

SECTION 1. Section 31.0925(b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The governing body of a political subdivision shall request an election services contract with the county elections administrator to perform all duties and functions of the political subdivision in relation to an election that may be transferred under this subchapter [if the political subdivision receives a petition requesting the contract signed by a number of registered voters residing in the political subdivision that is equal to or exceeds one percent of all votes cast in the most recent general election held by the political subdivision].

SECTION 2. Sections 271.002(a) and (b), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) If the elections ordered by the authorities of two or more political subdivisions are to be held on the same day in all or part of the same county, the governing bodies of the political subdivisions shall [may] enter into an agreement to hold the elections jointly in the election precincts that can be served by common polling places, subject to Section 271.003.

(b) If an election ordered by the governor and the elections ordered by the authorities of one or more political subdivisions are to be held on the same day in all or part of the same county, the commissioners court of a county in which the election ordered by the governor is to be held and the governing bodies of the other political subdivisions shall [may] enter into an agreement to hold the elections jointly in the election precincts that can be served by common polling places, subject to Section 271.003.

SECTION 3. Section 271.003(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A regular county polling place shall [may] be used for a common polling place in a joint election.

SECTION 4. Section 271.007, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 271.007. BALLOT. Where possible, a [A] single ballot containing all the offices or propositions stating measures to be voted on at a particular polling place shall [may] be used in a joint election. A voter may not be permitted to select a ballot containing an office or proposition stating a measure on which the voter is ineligible to vote.

SECTION 5. Sections 31.0925(a) and (c), 42.002(c), and 271.002(c), Election Code, are repealed.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.