86R1713 GRM-F
 
  By: Swanson H.B. No. 88
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the order of candidate names on an election ballot.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2.002(d), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  The order of the candidates' names on the ballot shall
  be the relative order of names on the original ballot [determined by
  a drawing in accordance with Section 52.094].
         SECTION 2.  Sections 52.094(a) and (c), Election Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as otherwise provided by law, for an election at
  which the names of more than one candidate for the same office are
  to appear on the ballot in an independent column or are to appear on
  a general or special election ballot that does not contain a party
  nominee, the order of the candidates' names shall be determined by a
  drawing. The order of the candidates' names on the ballot of any
  resulting runoff election or election held to resolve a tie vote
  shall be the relative order of names on the original election
  ballot. 
         (c)  The authority conducting the drawing shall post in the
  authority's office a notice of the date, hour, and place of the
  drawing. The notice must remain posted continuously for 72 hours
  immediately preceding the scheduled time of the drawing[, except
  that for a runoff election or an election held to resolve a tie
  vote, the notice must remain posted for 24 hours immediately
  preceding the scheduled time of the drawing].
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.