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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to temporary branch polling places. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 85.064, Election Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 85.064. DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING: TEMPORARY BRANCH IN |
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POPULOUS COUNTY. |
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SECTION 2. Section 85.064, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a) to read as follows: |
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(a) This section applies only to an election in which the |
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territory served by the early voting clerk is situated in a county |
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with a population of 100,000 or more. In an election in which the |
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territory served by the clerk is situated in more than one county, |
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this section applies if the sum of the populations of the counties |
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is 100,000 or more. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 85, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 85.065 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 85.065. DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING: TEMPORARY BRANCH IN |
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LESS POPULOUS COUNTY. (a) This section applies only to an election |
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in which the territory served by the early voting clerk is situated |
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in a county with a population under 100,000. In an election in which |
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the territory served by the clerk is situated in more than one |
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county, this section applies if the sum of the populations of the |
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counties is under 100,000. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), voting at a |
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temporary branch polling place may be conducted on any days and |
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during any hours of the period for early voting by personal |
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appearance, as determined by the authority establishing the branch. |
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The authority authorized under Section 85.006 to order early voting |
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on a Saturday or Sunday may also order, in the manner prescribed by |
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that section, early voting to be conducted on a Saturday or Sunday |
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at any one or more of the temporary branch polling places. |
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(c) Voting at a temporary branch polling place must be |
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conducted on at least two consecutive business days and for at least |
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eight consecutive hours on each of those days. |
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(d) The schedules for conducting voting are not required to |
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be uniform among the temporary branch polling places. |
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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 under Section 85.064(d) or 85.065(b), if |
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the early voting clerk is a county clerk or city secretary under |
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Section 83.002 or 83.005. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |