86R7941 ADM-F
By: Guillen H.B. No. 1260
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to jointly held elections for political subdivisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.0925(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The governing body of a political subdivision shall
request an election services contract with the county elections
administrator to perform all duties and functions of the political
subdivision in relation to an election that may be transferred
under this subchapter [if the political subdivision receives a
petition requesting the contract signed by a number of registered
voters residing in the political subdivision that is equal to or
exceeds one percent of all votes cast in the most recent general
election held by the political subdivision].
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 271.002, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 271.002. JOINT ELECTIONS REQUIRED [AUTHORIZED].
SECTION 3. Sections 271.002(a) and (b), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) If the elections ordered by the authorities of two or
more political subdivisions are to be held on the same day in all or
part of the same county, the governing bodies of the political
subdivisions shall [may] enter into an agreement to hold the
elections jointly in the election precincts that can be served by
common polling places, subject to Section 271.003.
(b) If an election ordered by the governor and the elections
ordered by the authorities of one or more political subdivisions
are to be held on the same day in all or part of the same county, the
commissioners court of a county in which the election ordered by the
governor is to be held and the governing bodies of the other
political subdivisions shall [may] enter into an agreement to hold
the elections jointly in the election precincts that can be served
by common polling places, subject to Section 271.003.
SECTION 4. Section 271.003(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A regular county polling place shall [may] be used for a
common polling place in a joint election.
SECTION 5. Section 271.007, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 271.007. BALLOT. Where possible, a [A] single ballot
containing all the offices or propositions stating measures to be
voted on at a particular polling place shall [may] be used in a
joint election. A voter may not be permitted to select a ballot
containing an office or proposition stating a measure on which the
voter is ineligible to vote.
SECTION 6. Sections 31.0925(a) and (c), 42.002(c), 85.010,
and 271.002(c), Election Code, are repealed.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.