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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the elections for which countywide polling places may |
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be used. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 43.004(c), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) If a political subdivision holds an election jointly |
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with an election described by Section 43.007(a)(1), (2), or (3)[,
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or (4)] and is required to use countywide polling places under |
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Section 43.007, the governing body of the political subdivision may |
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designate as the polling places for any required runoff election |
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only the polling places located in the territory or in and near the |
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territory of the political subdivision where eligible voters |
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reside. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 43.007(a) and (k), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The secretary of state shall implement a program to |
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allow each commissioners court participating in the program to |
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eliminate county election precinct polling places and establish |
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countywide polling places for: |
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(1) [each general election for state and county
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officers;
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[(2)] each election held on the uniform election date |
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in May and any resulting runoff; |
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(2) [(3)] each election on a proposed constitutional |
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amendment that is not held on the same date as the general election |
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for state and county officers; |
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(3) [(4)] each primary election and runoff primary |
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election if[:
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[(A)] the county chair or county executive |
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committee of each political party participating in a joint primary |
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election under Section 172.126 agrees to the use of countywide |
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polling places; [or
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[(B) the county chair or county executive
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committee of each political party required to nominate candidates
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by primary election agrees to use the same countywide polling
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places;] and |
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(4) [(5)] each election of a political subdivision |
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located in the county that is held jointly with an election |
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described by Subdivision (1), (2), or (3)[, or (4)]. |
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(k) Each county that previously participated in a program |
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under this section is authorized to continue participation in the |
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program for future elections held on the uniform election date in |
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May and any resulting runoff, elections on proposed constitutional |
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amendments that are not held on the same date as the general |
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election for state and county officers, and primary elections and |
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runoff primary elections as described by Subsection (a) if: |
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(1) the commissioners court of the county approves |
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participation in the program; and |
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(2) the secretary of state determines the county's |
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participation in the program was successful. |
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SECTION 3. Section 32.002(c-1), Election Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |