Bill Text: TX HB288 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the early voting period.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-20 - No action taken in committee [HB288 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB288-Introduced.html

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85R1247 SRS-D
By: Keough H.B. No. 288

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the early voting period.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 85.001(a) and (e), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) The period for early voting by personal appearance
begins on the 10th [17th] day before election day and continues
through the second [fourth] day before election day, except as
otherwise provided by this section.
(e) For an election held on the uniform election date in May
and any resulting runoff election, the period for early voting by
personal appearance begins on the seventh [12th] day before
election day and continues through the second [fourth] day before
election day.
SECTION 2. Sections 85.005(c) and (d), Election Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(c) In a county with a population of 100,000 or more, the
voting in a primary election or the general election for state and
county officers shall be conducted at the main early voting polling
place for at least 12 hours on each weekday [of the last week] of the
early voting period, and the voting in a special election ordered by
the governor shall be conducted at the main early voting polling
place for at least 12 hours on each of the last two days of the early
voting period. Voting shall be conducted in accordance with this
subsection in those elections in a county with a population under
100,000 on receipt by the early voting clerk of a written request
for the extended hours submitted by at least 15 registered voters of
the county. The request must be submitted in time to enable
compliance with Section 85.067.
(d) In an election ordered by a city, early voting by
personal appearance at the main early voting polling place shall be
conducted for at least 12 hours[:
[(1)] on one weekday[, if the early voting period
consists of less than six weekdays; or
[(2) on two weekdays, if the early voting period
consists of six or more weekdays].
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.