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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the uniform election date. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2.025(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) or as otherwise |
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provided by this code, a runoff election shall be held on a Tuesday |
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[Saturday] designated by the secretary of state. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Section 41.001, Election Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 41.001. UNIFORM ELECTION DATE [DATES]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 41.001, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, each |
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general or special election in this state shall be held on [one of |
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the following dates: |
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[(1) the first Saturday in May in an odd-numbered |
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year; |
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[(2) the first Saturday in May in an even-numbered |
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year, for an election held by a political subdivision other than a |
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county, or ordered by the governor; or |
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[(3)] the first Tuesday after the first Monday in |
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November. |
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(c) Except for an election under Subsection (a) or Section |
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41.0011 [or a runoff election following an election held under |
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Subsection (a)(2)], an election may not be held within 30 days |
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before or after the date of the general election for state and |
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county officers, general primary election, or runoff primary |
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election. |
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(e) Except for an election under Section 41.0011 or as |
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provided by Section 203.004(b), every election held in this state |
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shall be held on a Tuesday. |
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SECTION 4. Section 41.004(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) If a law outside this code other than the constitution |
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requires a special election subject to Section 41.001(a) to be held |
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within a particular period after the occurrence of a certain event, |
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the election shall be held on the [an] authorized uniform election |
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date occurring within the period unless no uniform election date |
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within the period affords enough time to hold the election in the |
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manner required by law. In that case, Section 41.001(a) does not |
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apply [the election shall be held on the first authorized uniform |
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election date occurring after the expiration of the period]. |
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SECTION 5. Section 41.0052(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The governing body of a political subdivision[, other |
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than a county or municipal utility district,] that holds its |
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general election for officers on a date other than the November |
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uniform election date shall [may], not later than December 31, 2025 |
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[2016], change the date on which it holds its general election for |
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officers to the November uniform election date. |
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SECTION 6. Sections 203.013(c) and (e), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The election must be held on a Tuesday [or Saturday] |
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occurring not earlier than the 21st day or later than the 45th day |
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after the date the election is ordered. |
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(e) If a runoff election is necessary, it must be held on a |
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Tuesday [or Saturday] occurring not earlier than the 12th day or |
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later than the 25th day after the date the election is ordered. |
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SECTION 7. The following provisions of the Election Code |
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are repealed: |
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(1) Section 41.001(d); |
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(2) Section 41.0052(a-1), as added by Chapter 1160 |
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(S.B. 1131), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023; |
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(3) Section 41.0052(a-1), as added by Chapter 985 |
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(S.B. 2620), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023; |
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and |
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(4) Section 85.001(e). |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |