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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the order of names of certain candidates on a ballot. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2.002(d), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) The order of the candidates' names on each [the] ballot |
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shall be determined in the same manner as the [relative] order of |
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names on the original ballot. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 52.094(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, for an election at |
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which the names of more than one candidate for the same office are |
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to appear on the ballot in an independent column or are to appear on |
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a general or special election ballot that does not contain a party |
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nominee, the order of the candidates' names on each ballot shall be |
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randomly determined [by a drawing]. The order of the candidates' |
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names on each [the] ballot of any resulting runoff election or |
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election held to resolve a tie vote shall be determined in the same |
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manner as the [relative] order of names on the original election |
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ballot. |
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(b) The secretary of state may adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section [authority responsible for having the |
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official ballot prepared for the election shall conduct the |
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drawing]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 203.013(h), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(h) The order of the candidates' names on each [the] runoff |
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election ballot shall be determined in the same manner as the |
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[relative] order of names on the original expedited election |
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ballot. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 52.094(c), (d), and (e), Election Code, |
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are repealed. |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies only to an election ordered on |
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or after September 1, 2022. An election ordered before September 1, |
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2022, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |