81R2478 JRJ-D
By: Alonzo H.B. No. 246
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the date of the primary election and related
procedures.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 41.007(a), (b), and (c), Election Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) The general primary election date is the first Tuesday
in February [March] in each even-numbered year.
(b) The runoff primary election date is the second Tuesday
in March [April] following the general primary election.
(c) The presidential primary election date is the first
Tuesday in February [March] in each presidential election year.
SECTION 2. Section 172.023(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) An application for a place on the general primary
election ballot must be filed not later than 6 p.m. on the 65th day
before the general primary election day [January 2 in the primary
election year] unless the filing deadline is extended under
Subchapter C.
SECTION 3. Section 181.0041, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 181.0041. REGISTRATION OF PARTY REQUIRED. A
political party that intends to make nominations under this chapter
for the general election for state and county officers must
register with the secretary of state, in the manner prescribed by
the secretary, not later than the regular filing deadline for
candidates in the general primary election [January 2 of the
election year].
SECTION 4. Section 181.033(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an application for
nomination by a convention must be filed not later than the regular
filing deadline for candidates in the general primary election [5
p.m. on January 2 preceding the convention].
SECTION 5. Sections 181.061(b) and (c), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(b) A party nominating by convention must make its
nominations for offices of districts situated in more than one
county at district conventions held on the second Saturday after
general primary election day [the second Tuesday in March]. A
district convention consists of delegates selected at the county
conventions held under Subsection (c).
(c) A party nominating by convention must make its
nominations for county and precinct offices and for offices of
districts not situated in more than one county at county
conventions held on the first Saturday after general primary
election day [the second Tuesday in March]. A county convention
consists of delegates selected at precinct conventions held on
general primary election day [the second Tuesday in March] in the
regular county election precincts.
SECTION 6. Section 182.005, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 182.005. NOMINATIONS MADE BY COUNTY CONVENTION. A
political party must make its nominations under this chapter at a
county convention held on the first Saturday after general primary
election day [the second Tuesday in March of the election year].
The convention consists of delegates selected at precinct
conventions held on general primary election day [the second
Tuesday in March] in the regular county election precincts.
SECTION 7. The term of a person who is serving as a county or
precinct chair of a political party on the effective date of this
Act ends on the 20th day after the second Tuesday in March 2010.
SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.