Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1566 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	86R11980 ATP-F
2	2	By: Fallon S.B. No. 1566
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the elections for which countywide polling places may
8	8	be used.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 43.004(c), Election Code, is amended to
11	11	read as follows:
12	12	(c) If a political subdivision holds an election jointly
13	13	with an election described by Section 43.007(a)(1), (2), or (3)[,
14	14	or (4)] and is required to use countywide polling places under
15	15	Section 43.007, the governing body of the political subdivision may
16	16	designate as the polling places for any required runoff election
17	17	only the polling places located in the territory or in and near the
18	18	territory of the political subdivision where eligible voters
19	19	reside.
20	20	SECTION 2. Sections 43.007(a) and (k), Election Code, are
21	21	amended to read as follows:
22	22	(a) The secretary of state shall implement a program to
23	23	allow each commissioners court participating in the program to
24	24	eliminate county election precinct polling places and establish
25	25	countywide polling places for:
26	26	(1) [each general election for state and county
27	27	officers;
28	28	[(2)] each election held on the uniform election date
29	29	in May and any resulting runoff;
30	30	(2) [(3)] each election on a proposed constitutional
31	31	amendment that is not held on the same date as the general election
32	32	for state and county officers;
33	33	(3) [(4)] each primary election and runoff primary
34	34	election if[:
35	35	[(A)] the county chair or county executive
36	36	committee of each political party participating in a joint primary
37	37	election under Section 172.126 agrees to the use of countywide
38	38	polling places; [or
39	39	[(B) the county chair or county executive
40	40	committee of each political party required to nominate candidates
41	41	by primary election agrees to use the same countywide polling
42	42	places;] and
43	43	(4) [(5)] each election of a political subdivision
44	44	located in the county that is held jointly with an election
45	45	described by Subdivision (1), (2), or (3)[, or (4)].
46	46	(k) Each county that previously participated in a program
47	47	under this section is authorized to continue participation in the
48	48	program for future elections held on the uniform election date in
49	49	May and any resulting runoff, elections on proposed constitutional
50	50	amendments that are not held on the same date as the general
51	51	election for state and county officers, and primary elections and
52	52	runoff primary elections as described by Subsection (a) if:
53	53	(1) the commissioners court of the county approves
54	54	participation in the program; and
55	55	(2) the secretary of state determines the county's
56	56	participation in the program was successful.
57	57	SECTION 3. Section 32.002(c-1), Election Code, is repealed.
58	58	SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only
59	59	to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.
60	60	An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is
61	61	governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and the
62	62	former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
63	63	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.