| 1 | 1 | | 88R21762 LRM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Swanson H.B. No. 153 |
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| 3 | 3 | | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 153: |
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| 4 | 4 | | By: DeAyala C.S.H.B. No. 153 |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to a ballot option to not vote for any candidate. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 52, Election Code, is |
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| 12 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 52.0685 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 52.0685. OPTION TO AFFIRMATIVELY CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE. |
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| 14 | 14 | | (a) Voters shall be given the opportunity to select "I choose not to |
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| 15 | 15 | | vote in this race" instead of voting for the candidates appearing on |
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| 16 | 16 | | the ballot or the list of write-in candidates for each race. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) A vote under this section does not count for the purpose |
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| 18 | 18 | | of determining which candidate received a majority of votes. |
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| 19 | 19 | | (c) The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and |
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| 20 | 20 | | manner of placing the option "I choose not to vote in this race" on |
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| 21 | 21 | | the ballot. |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 2. Sections 52.070(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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| 23 | 23 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (a) A shape for voting shall be printed to the left of: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (1) each candidate's name on a ballot; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2) the option "I choose not to vote in this race" for |
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| 27 | 27 | | each office to be voted on in the election. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (b) Immediately below "OFFICIAL BALLOT," the following |
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| 29 | 29 | | instruction shall be printed: "Vote for the candidate of your |
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| 30 | 30 | | choice in each race by placing an 'X' or filling in the shape beside |
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| 31 | 31 | | the candidate's name or beside "I choose not to vote in this race"." |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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