88R556 TSS-D
By: González of Dallas H.B. No. 702
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the conduct of primary elections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 43.007(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The secretary of state shall implement a program to
allow each commissioners court participating in the program to
eliminate county election precinct polling places and establish
countywide polling places for:
(1) any election required to be conducted by the
county;
(2) any election held as part of a joint election
agreement with a county under Chapter 271;
(3) any election held under contract for election
services with a county under Subchapter D, Chapter 31;
(4) each primary election and runoff primary election
if[:
[(A)] the county chair or county executive
committee of each political party participating in a joint primary
election under Section 172.126 agrees to the use of countywide
polling places; [or
[(B) the county chair or county executive
committee of each political party required to nominate candidates
by primary election agrees to use the same countywide polling
places;] and
(5) each election of a political subdivision located
in the county that is held jointly with an election described by
Subdivision (3) or (4).
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 172.126, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 172.126. JOINT PRIMARIES REQUIRED [AUTHORIZED].
SECTION 3. Section 172.126(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The primary elections in a county shall [may] be
conducted jointly at the regular polling places designated for the
general election for state and county officers. The county clerk
shall supervise the overall conduct of the joint primary elections.
This section applies to the conduct of joint primary elections
notwithstanding and in addition to other applicable provisions of
this code. [The decision to conduct a joint general primary
election or runoff primary election, as applicable, must be made by
majority vote of the full membership of the commissioners court and
with the unanimous approval of the county clerk and the county chair
of each political party required to nominate candidates by primary
election.]
SECTION 4. Section 85.0091(b), Election Code, is repealed.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.