TITLE: Relating to the hours during which the polls are open for early voting by personal appearance.

SUMMARY: Relating to the hours during which the polls are open for early voting by personal appearance.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the hours during which the polls are open for early voting by personal appearance. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 12.004(d), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (d) The [If early voting by personal appearance is required to be conducted for extended hours under Section 85.005(c) or for weekend hours under Section 85.006(e), the] registrar's office shall remain open for providing voter registration information during the [extended hours or weekend] hours that the main early voting polling place is open for voting. SECTION 2. Sections 85.005(c) and (d), Election Code, are amended to read as follows: (c) Voting [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 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. [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 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. Section 85.006(e), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (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 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. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an election for which early voting begins on or after September 1, 2017. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.