Bill Text: TX HB19 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the practices and procedures of federal elections.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 73-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-08-23 - Referred to Constitutional Rights & Remedies [HB19 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB19-Introduced.html
87S20048 MLH-F | ||
By: Schofield | H.B. No. 19 |
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relating to the practices and procedures of federal elections. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 1.002(a), Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) This code applies to all general, special, federal, and | ||
primary elections held in this state. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 1.005, Election Code, is amended to read | ||
as follows: | ||
Sec. 1.005. DEFINITIONS. In this code: | ||
(1) "City secretary" includes a city clerk or, in a | ||
city that has no city secretary or clerk, the city officer who | ||
performs the duties of a city secretary. | ||
(2) "County election precinct" means an election | ||
precinct established under Section 42.001. | ||
(3) "County office" means an office of the county | ||
government that is voted on countywide. | ||
(4) "District office" means an office of the federal | ||
or state government that is not voted on statewide. | ||
(4-a) "Federal election" means a primary or general | ||
election for a federal office or a resulting runoff election. | ||
(4-b) "Federal judge" means: | ||
(A) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of a | ||
United States court of appeals; | ||
(B) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of a | ||
United States district court; | ||
(C) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of a | ||
United States bankruptcy court; or | ||
(D) a magistrate judge, former magistrate judge, | ||
or retired magistrate judge of a United States district court. | ||
(4-c) "Federal office" means the offices of president | ||
and vice president of the United States, United States senator, or | ||
United States representative. | ||
(5) "Final canvass" means the canvass from which the | ||
official result of an election is determined. | ||
(6) "General election" means an election, other than a | ||
primary election, that regularly recurs at fixed dates. | ||
(7) "General election for state and county officers" | ||
means the general election at which officers of the [ |
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state[ |
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(8) "Gubernatorial general election" means the | ||
general election held every four years to elect a governor for a | ||
full term. | ||
(9) "Independent candidate" means a candidate in a | ||
nonpartisan election or a candidate in a partisan election who is | ||
not the nominee of a political party. | ||
(10) "Law" means a constitution, statute, city | ||
charter, or city ordinance. | ||
(11) "Local canvass" means the canvass of the precinct | ||
election returns. | ||
(12) "Measure" means a question or proposal submitted | ||
in an election for an expression of the voters' will. | ||
(13) "Political subdivision" means a county, city, or | ||
school district or any other governmental entity that: | ||
(A) embraces a geographic area with a defined | ||
boundary; | ||
(B) exists for the purpose of discharging | ||
functions of government; and | ||
(C) possesses authority for subordinate | ||
self-government through officers selected by it. | ||
(14) "Primary election" means an election held by a | ||
political party under Chapter 172 to select its nominees for public | ||
office, and, unless the context indicates otherwise, the term | ||
includes a [ |
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(15) "Proposition" means the wording appearing on a | ||
ballot to identify a measure. | ||
(16) "Registered voter" means a person registered to | ||
vote in this state whose registration is effective. | ||
(17) "Residence address" means the street address and | ||
any apartment number, or the address at which mail is received if | ||
the residence has no address, and the city, state, and zip code that | ||
correspond to a person's residence. | ||
(18) "Special election" means an election that is not | ||
a general election or a primary election. | ||
(18-a) "State judge" means: | ||
(A) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of an | ||
appellate court, a district court, a constitutional county court, a | ||
county court at law, or a statutory probate court of this state; | ||
(B) an associate judge appointed under Chapter | ||
201, Family Code, or a retired associate judge or former associate | ||
judge appointed under that chapter; | ||
(C) a magistrate or associate judge appointed | ||
under Chapter 54 or 54A, Government Code; | ||
(D) a justice of the peace; or | ||
(E) a municipal court judge. | ||
(19) "Statewide office" means an office of the | ||
[ |
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(21) "Uniform election date" means an election date | ||
prescribed by Section 41.001. | ||
(22) "Voting station" means the voting booth or other | ||
place where voters mark their ballots or otherwise indicate their | ||
votes at a polling place. | ||
(23) "Voting year" means the 12-month period beginning | ||
January 1 of each year. | ||
(24) "Presidential primary election" means an | ||
election held under Subchapter A, Chapter 191, at which a political | ||
party's voters are given an opportunity to express their | ||
preferences for the party's presidential candidates, or for an | ||
"uncommitted" status if provided by party rule, for the purpose of | ||
determining the allocation of the party's delegates from this state | ||
to the party's national presidential nominating convention. | ||
SECTION 3. Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and | ||
20, Election Code, are designated as Subtitle A, Title 2, Election | ||
Code, and a heading is added to Subtitle A to read as follows: | ||
SUBTITLE A. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS | ||
SECTION 4. Section 11.002(a), Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) In this code, "qualified voter" means a person who: | ||
(1) is 18 years of age or older; | ||
(2) is a United States citizen; | ||
(3) has not been determined by a final judgment of a | ||
court exercising probate jurisdiction to be: | ||
(A) totally mentally incapacitated; or | ||
(B) partially mentally incapacitated without the | ||
right to vote; | ||
(4) has not been finally convicted of a felony or, if | ||
so convicted, has: | ||
(A) fully discharged the person's sentence, | ||
including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or | ||
completed a period of probation ordered by any court; or | ||
(B) been pardoned or otherwise released from the | ||
resulting disability to vote; | ||
(5) is a resident of this state; and | ||
(6) is a registered voter under this subtitle. | ||
SECTION 5. Title 2, Election Code, is amended by adding | ||
Subtitle B to read as follows: | ||
SUBTITLE B. FEDERAL ELECTIONS | ||
CHAPTER 21. GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||
Sec. 21.001. DEFINITIONS. In this subtitle: | ||
(1) "Federal ballot" means a ballot that only lists | ||
elections and candidates for federal office. | ||
(2) "State election" means an election that is not a | ||
federal election. | ||
Sec. 21.002. FEDERAL ELECTIONS SEPARATE. (a) | ||
Notwithstanding other law, a federal election is a separate | ||
election from any other election in this state. | ||
(b) A federal election under this subtitle may not list on | ||
the federal ballot any proposition or election for state or county | ||
office. | ||
(c) To the extent feasible, a federal election and a state | ||
election shall be held separately and concurrently using the same | ||
precincts and polling locations. | ||
Sec. 21.003. RULES. (a) The secretary of state shall adopt | ||
rules to enact this subtitle. | ||
(b) The rules adopted under this section must reduce voter | ||
disruption and confusion to the greatest extent possible, including | ||
by using the same area in which voters are being accepted for voting | ||
and the same voting stations for state and federal elections. | ||
CHAPTER 22. VOTER REGISTRATION FOR FEDERAL ELECTIONS | ||
Sec. 22.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "military | ||
service voter" means: | ||
(1) a member of the armed forces of the United States; | ||
(2) a member of the merchant marine of the United | ||
States; | ||
(3) a member of the Texas National Guard; | ||
(4) a member of the National Guard of another state | ||
serving on active duty under an order of the president of the United | ||
States; | ||
(5) a member of a reserve component of the armed forces | ||
of the United States serving on active duty under an order of the | ||
president of the United States or activated on state orders; or | ||
(6) a spouse or dependent of a member of a military | ||
organization listed in Subdivisions (1) through (5). | ||
Sec. 22.002. ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS. To | ||
be eligible to vote in a federal election in this state, a person | ||
must: | ||
(1) be a qualified voter as defined by Section 11.002 | ||
on the day the person offers to vote; or | ||
(2) meet all requirements for voter eligibility under | ||
federal law and: | ||
(A) meet all of the requirements to be a | ||
qualified voter under Section 11.002 except the requirement under | ||
Section 11.002(a)(6) that the person be a registered voter under | ||
Subtitle A, and be: | ||
(i) a military service voter; or | ||
(ii) domiciled in this state but | ||
temporarily living outside the territorial limits of the United | ||
States and the District of Columbia; or | ||
(B) be unable to complete the registration | ||
requirements under Subtitle A. | ||
Sec. 22.003. REGISTRATION FOR FEDERAL ELECTIONS. (a) The | ||
secretary of state shall create and maintain a procedure by which a | ||
person eligible under Section 22.002 may submit an application to | ||
register to vote under this subtitle. The procedure under this | ||
section must comply with all federal laws for voter registration. | ||
(b) A person who submits an application for registration | ||
under Chapter 13 that does not comply with all requirements under | ||
Subtitle A but does comply with all requirements under federal law | ||
shall be registered to vote under this subtitle. | ||
(c) A person registered to vote under Subsection (b) who | ||
submits an application for registration under Chapter 13 that is | ||
accepted becomes registered to vote under Subtitle A. | ||
CHAPTER 23. CONDUCT OF FEDERAL ELECTIONS | ||
Sec. 23.001. CREATION OF FEDERAL BALLOT. The authority | ||
preparing a ballot for a concurrent federal and state election | ||
shall prepare a separate federal ballot for voters registered under | ||
this subtitle. | ||
Sec. 23.002. BALLOT RECEIVED BY VOTER IN FEDERAL ELECTION. | ||
(a) A voter registered to vote under Subtitle A may vote a full | ||
ballot containing propositions and candidates for office in state | ||
and federal elections. | ||
(b) A voter registered to vote under this subtitle may only | ||
vote a federal ballot. | ||
Sec. 23.003. OTHER CONDUCT. (a) Voting, tabulation, and | ||
reporting procedures for a state election shall be conducted under | ||
the provisions of this code. | ||
(b) To the extent possible, voting, tabulation, and | ||
reporting procedures for a federal election shall be conducted | ||
under the provisions of this code. | ||
(c) To the extent that federal law conflicts with a | ||
provision of this code, voting, tabulation, and reporting | ||
procedures for a federal election shall be conducted under the | ||
provisions of the applicable federal law. | ||
SECTION 6. Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Election Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 41.003 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 41.003. GENERAL ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICERS. (a) | ||
The general election for federal officers shall be held on the first | ||
Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years. | ||
(b) To the extent feasible, the general election for federal | ||
officers shall be held concurrently with the general election for | ||
state and county officers. | ||
SECTION 7. The heading to Section 41.007, Election Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 41.007. PRIMARY ELECTIONS FOR STATE AND COUNTY | ||
OFFICERS. | ||
SECTION 8. Sections 41.007(a) and (d), Election Code, are | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) The general primary election date for state and county | ||
officers is the first Tuesday in March in each even-numbered year. | ||
(d) No [ |
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federal officers may be held on the date of a primary election. | ||
SECTION 9. Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Election Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 41.0075 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 41.0075. PRIMARY ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICERS. (a) | ||
The primary election date for federal officers is the first Tuesday | ||
in March in each even-numbered year. | ||
(b) The runoff primary election date for federal officers is | ||
the fourth Tuesday in May following the primary election for | ||
federal officers. | ||
(c) The presidential primary election date is the first | ||
Tuesday in March in each presidential election year. | ||
(d) To the extent feasible, the primary election for federal | ||
officers shall be held concurrently with the primary election for | ||
state and county officers. | ||
SECTION 10. Section 42.002(a), Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) The county election precincts are the election | ||
precincts for the following elections: | ||
(1) the general election for state and county | ||
officers; | ||
(2) a special election ordered by the governor; | ||
(3) a primary election; | ||
(4) a countywide election ordered by the commissioners | ||
court, county judge, or other county authority, except an election | ||
subject to Section 42.062(2); [ |
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(5) a federal election; and | ||
(6) as provided by Section 42.0621, any other election | ||
held by a political subdivision on a uniform election date. | ||
SECTION 11. Section 67.010(a), Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) The county election returns for an election for a | ||
statewide office other than governor or lieutenant governor, a | ||
statewide measure, a district office, or a federal office | ||
[ |
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canvassed by the governor. | ||
SECTION 12. Section 84.014, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 84.014. ACTION BY EARLY VOTING CLERK ON CERTAIN | ||
APPLICATIONS. If an applicant provides a date of birth, driver's | ||
license number, or social security number on the applicant's | ||
application for an early voting ballot to be voted by mail that is | ||
different from or in addition to the information maintained by the | ||
voter registrar in accordance with Subtitle A, Title 2, the early | ||
voting clerk shall notify the voter registrar. The voter registrar | ||
shall update the voter's record with the information provided by | ||
the applicant. | ||
SECTION 13. Section 101.052, Election Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (e), (f), and (j) and adding Subsection (n) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(e) An applicant who otherwise complies with applicable | ||
requirements is entitled to receive a full ballot to be voted by | ||
mail under this chapter if: | ||
(1) the applicant submits a federal postcard | ||
application to the early voting clerk on or before the 20th day | ||
before election day; and | ||
(2) the application contains the information that is | ||
required for registration under Subtitle A, Title 2. | ||
(f) The applicant is entitled to receive only a federal | ||
ballot to be voted by mail under Chapter 114 if: | ||
(1) the applicant submits the federal postcard | ||
application to the early voting clerk after the date provided by | ||
Subsection (e)(1) and before the deadline for submitting a regular | ||
application for a ballot to be voted by mail; and | ||
(2) the application contains the information that is | ||
required for registration under Subtitle A, Title 2. | ||
(j) If the early voting clerk determines that an application | ||
that is submitted before the time prescribed by Subsection (e)(1) | ||
does not contain the information that is required for registration | ||
under Subtitle A, Title 2, the clerk shall notify the applicant of | ||
that fact. If the applicant has provided a telephone number or an | ||
address for receiving mail over the Internet, the clerk shall | ||
notify the applicant by that medium. | ||
(n) A federal postcard application that does not meet the | ||
requirements of Subtitle A, Title 2, may still constitute | ||
registration for federal elections if the federal postcard | ||
application meets the requirements of Subtitle B, Title 2. | ||
SECTION 14. Section 101.053(b), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(b) If an applicant provides a date of birth, driver's | ||
license number, or social security number on the applicant's | ||
federal postcard application that is different from or in addition | ||
to the information maintained by the voter registrar in accordance | ||
with Subtitle A, Title 2, the early voting clerk shall notify the | ||
voter registrar. The voter registrar shall update the voter's | ||
record with the information provided by the applicant. | ||
SECTION 15. Section 101.055, Election Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as | ||
follows: | ||
(a) The submission of a federal postcard application that | ||
complies with the [ |
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by an unregistered applicant constitutes registration by the | ||
applicant: | ||
(1) for the purpose of voting in the election for state | ||
and county officers for which a ballot is requested; and | ||
(2) under Subtitle A, Title 2, if the federal postcard | ||
application complies with the requirements under that subtitle, | ||
unless the person indicates on the application that the person is | ||
residing outside the United States indefinitely. | ||
(a-1) The submission of a federal postcard application that | ||
complies with the requirements of Subtitle B, Title 2, by an | ||
unregistered applicant constitutes registration by the applicant: | ||
(1) for the purpose of voting in the election for | ||
federal officers for which a ballot is requested; and | ||
(2) under Subtitle B, Title 2, if the federal postcard | ||
application complies with the requirements under that subtitle, | ||
unless the person indicates on the application that the person is | ||
residing outside the United States indefinitely. | ||
SECTION 16. Section 142.005, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 142.005. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPLICATION FILED. An | ||
application for a place on the ballot must be filed with: | ||
(1) the secretary of state, for a federal, statewide, | ||
or district office; or | ||
(2) the county judge, for a county or precinct office. | ||
SECTION 17. Section 145.033, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 145.033. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM WITHDRAWAL REQUEST FILED. | ||
A candidate must file a withdrawal request with: | ||
(1) the secretary of state, for a federal, statewide, | ||
or district office; or | ||
(2) the authority responsible for having the official | ||
ballot prepared, for a county or precinct office. | ||
SECTION 18. Section 145.037(d), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(d) The chair must deliver the certification to: | ||
(1) the secretary of state, for a federal, statewide, | ||
or district office; or | ||
(2) the authority responsible for having the official | ||
ballot prepared, for a county or precinct office. | ||
SECTION 19. Section 146.024, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 146.024. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM DECLARATION FILED. A | ||
declaration of write-in candidacy must be filed with: | ||
(1) the secretary of state, for a federal, statewide, | ||
or district office; or | ||
(2) the county judge, for a county or precinct office. | ||
SECTION 20. Section 161.008(a), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the secretary of | ||
state shall certify in writing for placement on the general | ||
election ballot the name of each candidate nominated at a primary | ||
election or convention of a political party for a federal, | ||
statewide, or district office. | ||
SECTION 21. Section 163.006(d), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(d) Before January 15 of each year in which political | ||
parties hold precinct conventions under this title, the secretary | ||
of state shall deliver written notice of the requirements of this | ||
section to the state chair of each party that had a nominee for a | ||
federal, statewide, or district office on the most recent general | ||
election ballot. | ||
SECTION 22. Section 172.059(b), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(b) A withdrawal request for the runoff primary must be | ||
filed with the state chair, for a federal, statewide, or district | ||
office, or with the county chair, for a county or precinct office. | ||
SECTION 23. Section 172.121(a), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) The state chair shall certify on the secretary of | ||
state's website for placement on the runoff primary election ballot | ||
the name of each general primary candidate for a federal, | ||
statewide, or district office who is to be a candidate in the | ||
runoff. | ||
SECTION 24. Section 172.122(a), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) The state chair shall certify by posting on the | ||
secretary of state's website the name and address of each primary | ||
candidate who is nominated for a federal, statewide, or district | ||
office. The state chair shall execute and file digitally with the | ||
secretary of state an affidavit certifying that the returns posted | ||
on the secretary of state's website are the correct and complete | ||
returns. The secretary of state shall adopt by rule a process to | ||
allow the chair to submit the affidavit digitally. | ||
SECTION 25. Section 173.063, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 173.063. FEE RETAINED BY STATE CHAIR. The state chair | ||
shall deposit in the state primary fund each filing fee | ||
accompanying an application for a place on the ballot filed with the | ||
state chair: | ||
(1) for a federal office; | ||
(1-a) for a statewide office; or | ||
(2) for a district office if the application is filed | ||
after the regular filing deadline. | ||
SECTION 26. Section 181.0311(a), Election Code, as | ||
effective September 1, 2021, is amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) In addition to any other requirements, to be considered | ||
for nomination by convention, a candidate must: | ||
(1) pay a filing fee to the secretary of state for a | ||
federal, statewide, or district office or the county judge for a | ||
county or precinct office; or | ||
(2) submit to the secretary of state for a federal, | ||
statewide, or district office or the county judge for a county or | ||
precinct office a petition in lieu of a filing fee that satisfies | ||
the requirements prescribed by Subsection (e) and Section 141.062. | ||
SECTION 27. Section 181.032(a), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) An application for nomination by a convention must be | ||
filed with: | ||
(1) the state chair, for a federal, statewide, or | ||
district office; or | ||
(2) the county chair, for a county or precinct office. | ||
SECTION 28. Section 181.068(b), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(b) Not later than the 20th day after the date of the | ||
convention making the nomination, the presiding officer shall | ||
deliver the certification to: | ||
(1) the authority responsible for having the official | ||
general election ballot prepared in the county, for certification | ||
of a county or precinct office; or | ||
(2) the secretary of state, for certification of a | ||
federal, statewide, or district office. | ||
SECTION 29. Sections 231.008(b) and (c), Election Code, are | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) If the judgment in a contest for an office affects the | ||
preparation of the ballot for a succeeding election, the clerk | ||
shall deliver a copy to the authority responsible for having the | ||
official ballot prepared or, in the case of a federal, statewide, or | ||
district office, to the authority responsible for certifying the | ||
names of the candidates for placement on the ballot. | ||
(c) If the judgment orders that a new general or special | ||
election be held, the clerk shall deliver a copy to the authority | ||
responsible for ordering the election. If the judgment orders a new | ||
primary election, the clerk shall deliver a copy to the state chair | ||
of the appropriate political party, in the case of a federal, | ||
statewide, or district office, or to the county chair, in the case | ||
of a county or precinct office. | ||
SECTION 30. Section 232.013(d), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(d) If the contested election is a primary, the district | ||
clerk shall deliver a certified copy of the order setting the date | ||
of the runoff to the state chair of the political party in the case | ||
of a federal, statewide, or district office or to the county chair | ||
in the case of a county or precinct office. | ||
SECTION 31. Section 232.048(c), Election Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(c) The candidate receiving the most votes in a new election | ||
ordered by a court in a primary election contest is the political | ||
party's nominee, regardless of whether the candidate receives a | ||
majority vote, if the date of the final canvass of the court-ordered | ||
primary is on or after: | ||
(1) the 85th day before the date of the succeeding | ||
general election in the case of a federal, statewide, or district | ||
office; or | ||
(2) the 75th day before the date of the succeeding | ||
general election in the case of a county or precinct office. | ||
SECTION 32. Section 252.005, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 252.005. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED: | ||
CANDIDATE. An individual must file a campaign treasurer appointment | ||
for the individual's own candidacy with: | ||
(1) the commission, if the appointment is made for | ||
candidacy for: | ||
(A) a federal office; | ||
(A-1) a statewide office; | ||
(B) a district office filled by voters of more | ||
than one county; | ||
(C) a judicial district office filled by voters | ||
of only one county; | ||
(D) state senator; | ||
(E) state representative; or | ||
(F) the State Board of Education; | ||
(2) the county clerk, if the appointment is made for | ||
candidacy for a county office, a precinct office, or a district | ||
office other than one included in Subdivision (1); | ||
(3) the clerk or secretary of the governing body of the | ||
political subdivision or, if the political subdivision has no clerk | ||
or secretary, with the governing body's presiding officer, if the | ||
appointment is made for candidacy for an office of a political | ||
subdivision other than a county; | ||
(4) the county clerk if: | ||
(A) the appointment is made for candidacy for an | ||
office of a political subdivision other than a county; | ||
(B) the governing body for the political | ||
subdivision has not been formed; and | ||
(C) no boundary of the political subdivision | ||
crosses a boundary of the county; or | ||
(5) the commission if: | ||
(A) the appointment is made for candidacy for an | ||
office of a political subdivision other than a county; | ||
(B) the governing body for the political | ||
subdivision has not been formed; and | ||
(C) the political subdivision is situated in more | ||
than one county. | ||
SECTION 33. Section 41.007(c), Election Code, is repealed. | ||
SECTION 34. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the | ||
last day of the legislative session. |