| 1 | 1 | | 83R8314 ATP-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Sheffield of Coryell, H.B. No. 1518 |
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| 3 | 3 | | Miller of Fort Bend, Ashby |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 7 | 7 | | AN ACT |
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| 8 | 8 | | relating to use of countywide polling places for certain elections. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 43.004, Election Code, is amended by |
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| 11 | 11 | | adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (c) If a political subdivision holds an election jointly |
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| 13 | 13 | | with an election described by Section 43.007(a)(1), (2), (3), or |
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| 14 | 14 | | (4) and is required to use countywide polling places under Section |
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| 15 | 15 | | 43.007, the governing body of the political subdivision may |
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| 16 | 16 | | designate as the polling places for any required runoff election |
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| 17 | 17 | | only the polling places located in the territory or in and near the |
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| 18 | 18 | | territory of the political subdivision where eligible voters |
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| 19 | 19 | | reside. |
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| 20 | 20 | | SECTION 2. Section 43.007(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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| 21 | 21 | | read as follows: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (a) The secretary of state shall implement a program to |
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| 23 | 23 | | allow each commissioners court participating in the program to |
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| 24 | 24 | | eliminate county election precinct polling places and establish |
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| 25 | 25 | | countywide polling places for: |
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| 26 | 26 | | (1) each general election for state and county |
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| 27 | 27 | | officers; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (2) each election held on the uniform election date in |
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| 29 | 29 | | May; |
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| 30 | 30 | | (3) each election on a proposed constitutional |
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| 31 | 31 | | amendment; [and] |
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| 32 | 32 | | (4) each primary election and runoff primary election |
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| 33 | 33 | | if: |
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| 34 | 34 | | (A) the county chair or county executive |
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| 35 | 35 | | committee of each political party participating in a joint primary |
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| 36 | 36 | | election under Section 172.126 agrees to the use of countywide |
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| 37 | 37 | | polling places; or |
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| 38 | 38 | | (B) the county chair or county executive |
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| 39 | 39 | | committee of each political party required to nominate candidates |
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| 40 | 40 | | by primary election agrees to use the same countywide polling |
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| 41 | 41 | | places; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | (5) each election of a political subdivision located |
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| 43 | 43 | | in the county that is held jointly with an election described by |
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| 44 | 44 | | Subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4) [(3)]. |
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| 45 | 45 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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