85R12245 GRM-D
By: Shaheen H.B. No. 2554
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the location and hours for early voting by personal
appearance.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 85.010(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A political subdivision that holds an election
described by Subsection (a) shall designate as an early voting
polling place for the election any early voting polling place[,
other than a polling place established under Section 85.062(e),]
established by the county and located in the political subdivision.
SECTION 2. Sections 85.062(a) and (b), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) [or (e)], one or
more early voting polling places other than the main early voting
polling place may be established by:
(1) the commissioners court, for an election in which
the county clerk is the early voting clerk; or
(2) the governing body of the political subdivision
served by the authority ordering the election, for an election in
which a person other than the county clerk is the early voting
clerk.
(b) A polling place established under this section may be
located, subject to Subsection (d), at any place in the territory
served by the early voting clerk and may be located in any
stationary structure as directed by the authority establishing the
branch office. The polling place may be located in a movable
structure, but the structure may not change locations during the
early voting period [in the general election for state and county
officers, general primary election, or runoff primary election].
Ropes or other suitable objects may be used at the polling place to
ensure compliance with Section 62.004. Persons who are not
expressly permitted by law to be in a polling place shall be
excluded from the polling place to the extent practicable.
SECTION 3. Section 85.063, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 85.063. DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING: PERMANENT OR
TEMPORARY BRANCH. Early voting by personal appearance at each
permanent or temporary branch polling place shall be conducted on
the same days and during the same hours as voting is conducted at
the main early voting polling place.
SECTION 4. Section 85.068(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The early voting clerk shall post notice for each
election stating any dates and the hours that voting on Saturday or
Sunday will be conducted at a temporary branch polling place [under
Section 85.064(d) or 85.065(b)], if the early voting clerk is a
county clerk or city secretary under Section 83.002 or 83.005.
SECTION 5. The following provisions of the Election Code
are repealed:
(1) Section 42.002(c);
(2) Section 85.062(e);
(3) Section 85.064; and
(4) Section 85.065.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.