82R8974 ATP-D By: Farias H.B. No. 1895 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the conduct of early voting by personal appearance on weekends in general and primary elections. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 85.001(b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) For a special runoff election for the office of state senator or state representative [or for a runoff primary election], the period begins on the 10th day before election day. For a runoff primary election, the period begins on the 11th day before election day. SECTION 2. Sections 85.006(a) and (c), Election Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) The [Except as provided by Subsection (b), the] authority ordering an election shall [may] order early voting by personal appearance at the main early voting polling place to be conducted on one or more Saturdays and one or more [or] Sundays during the early voting period. (c) The authority ordering an election [voting on a Saturday or Sunday] shall determine the hours during which voting is to be conducted on Saturday and on Sunday. SECTION 3. Sections 85.006(b) and (d), Election Code, are repealed. SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.