By: Clardy, Guillen H.B. No. 2149
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to temporary branch polling places.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 85.064, Election Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 85.064. DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING: TEMPORARY BRANCH IN
POPULOUS COUNTY.
SECTION 2. Section 85.064, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a) to read as follows:
(a) This section applies only to an election in which the
territory served by the early voting clerk is situated in a county
with a population of 100,000 or more. In an election in which the
territory served by the clerk is situated in more than one county,
this section applies if the sum of the populations of the counties
is 100,000 or more.
SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 85, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 85.065 to read as follows:
Sec. 85.065. DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING: TEMPORARY BRANCH IN
LESS POPULOUS COUNTY. (a) This section applies only to an election
in which the territory served by the early voting clerk is situated
in a county with a population under 100,000. In an election in which
the territory served by the clerk is situated in more than one
county, this section applies if the sum of the populations of the
counties is under 100,000.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), voting at a
temporary branch polling place may be conducted on any days and
during any hours of the period for early voting by personal
appearance, as determined by the authority establishing the branch.
The authority authorized under Section 85.006 to order early voting
on a Saturday or Sunday may also order, in the manner prescribed by
that section, early voting to be conducted on a Saturday or Sunday
at any one or more of the temporary branch polling places.
(c) Voting at a temporary branch polling place must be
conducted on at least two consecutive business days and for at least
eight consecutive hours on each of those days.
(d) The schedules for conducting voting are not required to
be uniform among the temporary branch polling places.
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 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. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.