Bill Text: TX HB1463 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the conduct of primary elections.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-18 - Left pending in committee [HB1463 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB1463-Introduced.html
  86R4733 GRM-D
 
  By: González of Dallas H.B. No. 1463
 
 
 
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)  each general election for state and county
  officers;
               (2)  each election held on the uniform election date in
  May and any resulting runoff;
               (3)  each election on a proposed constitutional
  amendment;
               (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 (1), (2), (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, Election Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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