Bill Text: TX SB1418 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the early voting period.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-14 - Referred to State Affairs [SB1418 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB1418-Introduced.html

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86R11052 ADM-D
By: Fallon S.B. No. 1418

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 (c), 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 fourth day before election day, except as otherwise
provided by this section.
(c) If the date prescribed by Subsection (a) [or (b)] for
beginning the period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday,
the early voting period begins on the next regular business day.
SECTION 2. Section 85.005(d), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) In an election ordered by a city, early voting by
personal appearance at the main early voting polling place shall be
conducted from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. [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. Sections 85.006(a), (d), and (e), Election Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the authority
ordering an election may order early voting by personal appearance
at the main early voting polling place to be conducted on a Saturday
or Sunday [one or more Saturdays or Sundays] during the early voting
period.
(d) The authority authorized to order early voting on a
Saturday or Sunday under Subsection (a) or (b) shall order the
voting under the applicable subsection on receipt of a written
request submitted by at least 15 registered voters of the territory
covered by the election. The request must be submitted in time to
enable compliance with Section 85.007. The authority [is not
required to order the voting on a particular date specified by the
request but] shall order the voting on [at least one] Saturday if
[a] Saturday is requested and on [at least one] Sunday if [a] Sunday
is requested.
(e) In a primary election or the general election for state
and county officers in a county with a population of 100,000 or
more, the early voting clerk shall order personal appearance voting
at the main early voting polling place to be conducted from 7 a.m.
until 7 p.m. [for at least 12 hours] on [the last] Saturday and for
at least five hours on [the last] Sunday during [of] the early
voting period. The early voting clerk shall order voting to be
conducted at those times in those elections in a county with a
population under 100,000 on receipt of a written request for those
hours submitted by at least 15 registered voters of the county. The
request must be submitted in time to enable compliance with Section
85.007. This subsection supersedes any provision of this
subchapter to the extent of any conflict.
SECTION 4. Sections 85.001(b) and (e), Election Code, are
repealed.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2020.