85R12620 SRS-D
By: Alonzo H.B. No. 2840
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. Sections 85.005(c) and (d), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(c) Voting [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 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].
(d) In an election ordered by a city, early voting by
personal appearance at the main early voting polling place shall be
conducted from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. [for at least 12 hours:
[(1) on one weekday, if the early voting period
consists of less than six weekdays; or
[(2) on two weekdays, if the early voting period
consists of six or more weekdays.]
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,
2017.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.