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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to electioneering near a polling place; creating a |
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criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.003, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if, during the voting period |
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and within 100 feet of an outside door through which a voter may |
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enter the building in which a polling place is located and is |
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designated by the presiding judge as the single point of entry, the |
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person: |
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(1) loiters; or |
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(2) electioneers for or against any candidate, |
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measure, or political party. |
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(a-2) A person commits an offense if, during the voting |
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period, the person prohibits electioneering outside the area |
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described in Subsection (a), including electioneering outside that |
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area and on the premises of a building in which a polling place is |
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located. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.010(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not |
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wear a badge, insignia, emblem, or other similar communicative |
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device relating to a candidate, measure, or political party |
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appearing on the ballot, or to the conduct of the election, in the |
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polling place or within 100 feet of the [any] outside door through |
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which a voter may enter the building in which the polling place is |
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located designated by the presiding judge as the single point of |
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entry under Section 61.003(a). |
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SECTION 3. Section 62.013(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) An election officer commits an offense if the officer |
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knowingly posts at a polling place, including the area within 100 |
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feet of an outside door through which a voter may enter the building |
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in which the polling place is located designated by the presiding |
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judge as the single point of entry under Section 61.003(a), a sign, |
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card, poster, or other similar material that: |
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(1) is not authorized or required by law; or |
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(2) is in a form or contains information that is not |
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authorized or required by law. |
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SECTION 4. Section 85.036(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) During the time an early voting polling place is open |
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for the conduct of early voting, a person may not electioneer for or |
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against any candidate, measure, or political party in or within 100 |
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feet of an outside door through which a voter may enter the building |
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or structure in which the early voting polling place is located and |
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is designated by the presiding judge as the single point of entry |
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under Section 61.003(a). |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.. |