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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the elimination of straight-party voting for county or |
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precinct offices. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 52.071(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The following instruction shall be added to the |
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instruction required by Section 52.070(b): "You may cast a |
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straight-party vote (that is, cast a vote for all the nominees of |
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one party other than nominees for a county or precinct office) by |
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placing an 'X' in the square beside the name of the party of your |
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choice. If you cast a straight-party vote for all the nominees of |
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one party and also cast a vote for an opponent of one of that party's |
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nominees, your vote for the opponent will be counted as well as your |
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vote for all the other nominees of the party other than nominees for |
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a county or precinct office for which the straight-party vote was |
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cast. A straight-party vote will not be counted for the nominee of |
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a party for a county or precinct office." |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 52, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 52.0921 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 52.0921. COUNTY AND PRECINCT OFFICES. (a) |
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a straight-party |
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vote does not count in an election for a county office listed in |
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Section 52.092(e) or a precinct office listed in Section 52.092(f). |
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Candidates for county or precinct offices appear with their party |
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affiliation or independent status displayed next to the candidate's |
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name in a format prescribed by the secretary of state. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to |
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inform voters that a straight-party vote does not count in an |
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election for a county or precinct office. The procedures shall |
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include signs posted in the polling place and notice on the ballot |
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or through the voting system on which a vote is cast. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 65.007(b) and (c), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) or (d), each |
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straight-party vote shall be tallied for the party receiving the |
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vote instead of being tallied for the individual candidates of the |
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party. The total number of straight-party votes tallied for each |
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party shall be added to the total votes received for each of the |
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party nominees individually, subject to Section 52.0921. |
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(c) If a ballot indicates a straight-party vote and a vote |
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for an opponent of one or more of that party's nominees, a vote |
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shall be counted for the opponent and for each of the party's other |
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nominees, subject to Section 52.0921, whether or not any of those |
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nominees have received individual votes. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |