83R2876 ADM-D
By: Johnson H.B. No. 1639
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to preregistration for participants in a political party's
precinct conventions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 162, Election Code, is amended by adding
Section 162.017 to read as follows:
Sec. 162.017. PREREGISTRATION. (a) A political party
holding a precinct convention may preregister attendees for the
convention by electronic means or any other method the party may
adopt by rule.
(b) The party may, through the preregistration process,
collect the following information from attendees:
(1) demographic data;
(2) information needed to organize and prepare records
of the convention; and
(3) any additional information required by party rule.
(c) In a presidential election year, the party may collect
through preregistration declarations of support for presidential
candidates or a statement of uncommitted status. The party may by
rule use this information to aid in the selection of delegates to
its county or senatorial district convention.
(d) If a political party collects declarations through
preregistration under Subsection (c), it must employ a process by
which an attendee may change the attendee's stated preference
before the precinct convention.
(e) The preregistration process must include the statement
described by Section 162.004(a) and require a preregistering
attendee to affiliate with the party by taking the oath described in
Section 162.007(b).
(f) The date and time at which preregistration opens and
closes may be set by party rule.
(g) A person who does not preregister to attend a precinct
convention under this section may register in person at the
convention and must have voting rights identical to those of a
person who preregistered.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.