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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the location and hours for early voting by personal |
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appearance. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 85.010(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A political subdivision that holds an election |
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described by Subsection (a) shall designate as an early voting |
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polling place for the election any early voting polling place[,
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other than a polling place established under Section 85.062(e),] |
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established by the county and located in the political subdivision. |
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SECTION 2. Section 85.062, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (h) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) [or (e)], one or |
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more early voting polling places other than the main early voting |
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polling place may be established by: |
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(1) the commissioners court, for an election in which |
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the county clerk is the early voting clerk; or |
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(2) the governing body of the political subdivision |
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served by the authority ordering the election, for an election in |
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which a person other than the county clerk is the early voting |
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clerk. |
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(b) A polling place established under this section may be |
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located, subject to Subsection (d), at any place in the territory |
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served by the early voting clerk and may be located in any |
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stationary structure as directed by the authority establishing the |
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branch office. The polling place may be located in a movable |
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structure, but the structure may not change locations during the |
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early voting period [in the general election for state and county
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officers, general primary election, or runoff primary election]. |
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Ropes or other suitable objects may be used at the polling place to |
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ensure compliance with Section 62.004. Persons who are not |
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expressly permitted by law to be in a polling place shall be |
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excluded from the polling place to the extent practicable. |
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(h) In an election held by a political subdivision for which |
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the ballot includes a proposition seeking voter approval of the |
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issuance of bonds, a temporary branch polling place must: |
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(1) remain at the same location for the entire period |
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during which early voting by personal appearance is conducted in |
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the district; and |
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(2) allow for early voting by personal appearance to |
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be conducted during the same days and hours as voting is conducted |
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at the main early voting polling place under Section 85.005. |
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SECTION 3. Section 85.063, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 85.063. DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING: PERMANENT OR |
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TEMPORARY BRANCH. Early voting by personal appearance at each |
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permanent or temporary branch polling place shall be conducted on |
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the same days and during the same hours as voting is conducted at |
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the main early voting polling place. |
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SECTION 4. Section 85.068(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The early voting clerk shall post notice for each |
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election stating any dates and the hours that voting on Saturday or |
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Sunday will be conducted at a temporary branch polling place [under
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Section 85.064(d) or 85.065(b)], if the early voting clerk is a |
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county clerk or city secretary under Section 83.002 or 83.005. |
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SECTION 5. The following provisions of the Election Code |
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are repealed: |
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(1) Section 42.002(c); |
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(2) Section 85.062(e); |
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(3) Section 85.064; and |
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(4) Section 85.065. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |