83R1590 JRJ-D
By: Hernandez Luna H.B. No. 491
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the hours during which the polls are open for early
voting by personal appearance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 12.004(d), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) The [If early voting by personal appearance is required
to be conducted for extended hours under Section 85.005(c) or for
weekend hours under Section 85.006(e), the] registrar's office
shall remain open for providing voter registration information
during the [extended hours or weekend] hours that the main early
voting polling place is open for voting.
SECTION 2. Section 85.005(c), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) In a county with a population of 100,000 or more, the
voting in a primary election, [or] the general election for state
and county officers, or a special election ordered by the governor
shall be conducted at the main early voting polling place from 7
a.m. until 7 p.m. [for at least 12 hours] on each weekday [of the
last week] of the early voting period[, and the voting in a special
election ordered by the governor shall be conducted at the main
early voting polling place for at least 12 hours on each of the last
two days of the early voting period]. Voting shall be conducted in
accordance with this subsection in those elections in a county with
a population under 100,000 on receipt by the early voting clerk of a
written request for the extended hours submitted by at least 15
registered voters of the county. The request must be submitted in
time to enable compliance with Section 85.067.
SECTION 3. Section 85.006(e), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(e) In a primary election or the general election for state
and county officers in a county with a population of 100,000 or
more, the early voting clerk shall order personal appearance voting
at the main early voting polling place to be conducted from 7 a.m.
until 7 p.m. [for at least 12 hours] on the last Saturday and for at
least five hours on the last Sunday of the early voting period. The
early voting clerk shall order voting to be conducted at those times
in those elections in a county with a population under 100,000 on
receipt of a written request for those hours submitted by at least
15 registered voters of the county. The request must be submitted
in time to enable compliance with Section 85.007. This subsection
supersedes any provision of this subchapter to the extent of any
conflict.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an election for which early voting begins on or after September 1,
2013.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.