reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TX Elec COde § 276.012 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 276 - Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions|Section 276.012. Engaging in Organized Election Fraud Activity

Sec. 276.012.  ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED ELECTION FRAUD ACTIVITY.  (a)  A person commits an offense if, with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a vote harvesting organization, the person commits or conspires to commit one or more offenses under Titles 1 through 7.(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under this section is one category higher than the most serious offense listed in Subsection (a) that is committed, and if the most serious offense is a Class A misdemeanor, the offense is a state jail felony.(c)  At the punishment stage of a trial, the defendant may raise the issue as to whether in voluntary and complete renunciation of the offense the defendant withdrew from the vote harvesting organization before commission of an offense listed in Subsection (a) and made substantial effort to prevent the commission of the offense.  If the defendant proves the issue in the affirmative by a preponderance of the evidence, the offense is the same category of offense as the most serious offense listed in Subsection (a) that is committed.(d)  In this section, "vote harvesting organization" means three or more persons who collaborate in committing offenses under Titles 1 through 7, although participants may not know each other's identity, membership in the organization may change from time to time, and participants may stand in a candidate-consultant, donor-consultant, consultant-field operative, or other arm's length relationship in the organization's operations.(e)  For purposes of this section, "conspires to commit" means that a person agrees with one or more persons that they or one or more of them engage in conduct that would constitute the offense and that person and one or more of them perform an overt act in pursuance of the agreement.  An agreement constituting conspiring to commit may be inferred from the acts of the parties.|Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 828 (H.B. 1735), Sec. 62, eff. September 1, 2017.Redesignated from Election Code, Section 276.011 by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 467 (H.B. 4170), Sec. 21.001(11), eff. September 1, 2019.|
TX Elec COde § 276.013 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 276 - Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions|Section 276.013. Election Fraud

Sec. 276.013.  ELECTION FRAUD.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally makes any effort to:(1)  influence the independent exercise of the vote of another in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process, including by altering the ballot of another or by otherwise causing a ballot to not reflect the intent of the voter;(2)  cause a voter to become registered, a ballot to be obtained, or a vote to be cast under false pretenses;(3)  cause any false or intentionally misleading statement, representation, or information to be provided:(A)  to an election official; or(B)  on an application for ballot by mail, carrier envelope, or any other official election-related form or document;(4)  prevent a voter from casting a legal ballot in an election in which the voter is eligible to vote;(5)  provide false information to a voter with the intent of preventing the voter from voting in an election in which the voter is eligible to vote;(6)  cause the ballot not to reflect the intent of the voter;(7)  cause a ballot to be voted for another person that the person knows to be deceased or otherwise knows not to be a qualified or registered voter;(8)  cause or enable a vote to be cast more than once in the same election; or(9)  discard or destroy a voter's completed ballot without the voter's consent.(b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, unless:(1)  the person committed the offense while acting in the person's capacity as an elected official, in which case the offense is a state jail felony; or(2)  the person is convicted of an attempt, in which case the offense is a Class B misdemeanor.(c)  An offense under this section is increased to the next higher category of offense if it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that:(1)  the defendant was previously convicted of an offense under this code;(2)  the offense involved a voter 65 years of age or older, and the actor was not:(A)  related to the voter within the second degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as determined under Subchapter B, Chapter 573, Government Code; or(B)  physically living in the same dwelling as the voter at the time of the event; or(3)  the defendant committed another offense under this section in the same election.(d)  If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.|Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 5), Sec. 17, eff. December 1, 2017.Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 7.03, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 276.014 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 276 - Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions|Section 276.014. Other Election Offenses

Sec. 276.014.  OTHER ELECTION OFFENSES.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally makes any effort to:(1)  count votes the person knows are invalid or alter a report to include votes the person knows are invalid; or(2)  refuse to count votes the person knows are valid or alter a report to exclude votes the person knows are valid.(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree.|Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 202 (H.B. 574), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 276.015 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 276 - Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions|Section 276.015. Vote Harvesting

Sec. 276.015.  VOTE HARVESTING.  (a)  In this section:(1)  "Benefit" means anything reasonably regarded as a gain or advantage, including a promise or offer of employment, a political favor, or an official act of discretion, whether to a person or another party whose welfare is of interest to the person.(2)  "Vote harvesting services" means in-person interaction with one or more voters, in the physical presence of an official ballot or a ballot voted by mail, intended to deliver votes for a specific candidate or measure.(b)  A person commits an offense if the person, directly or through a third party, knowingly provides or offers to provide vote harvesting services in exchange for compensation or other benefit.(c)  A person commits an offense if the person, directly or through a third party, knowingly provides or offers to provide compensation or other benefit to another person in exchange for vote harvesting services.(d)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly collects or possesses a mail ballot or official carrier envelope in connection with vote harvesting services.(e)  This section does not apply to:(1)  an activity not performed in exchange for compensation or a benefit;(2)  interactions that do not occur in the presence of the ballot or during the voting process;(3)  interactions that do not directly involve an official ballot or ballot by mail;(4)  interactions that are not conducted in-person with a voter; or(5)  activity that is not designed to deliver votes for or against a specific candidate or measure.(f)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree.(g)  If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.(h)  Records necessary to investigate an offense under this section or any other section of this code shall be provided by an election officer in an unredacted form to a law enforcement officer upon request.  Records obtained under this subsection are not subject to public disclosure.|Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 7.04, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 276.016 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 276 - Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions|Section 276.016. Unlawful Solicitation and Distribution of Application to Vote by Mail

Sec. 276.016.  UNLAWFUL SOLICITATION AND DISTRIBUTION  OF APPLICATION TO VOTE BY MAIL.  (a)  A public official or election official commits an offense if the official, while acting in an official capacity, knowingly:(1)  solicits the submission of an application to vote by mail from a person who did not request an application;(2)  distributes an application to vote by mail to a person who did not request the application unless the distribution is expressly authorized by another provision of this code;(3)  authorizes or approves the expenditure of public funds to facilitate third-party distribution of an application to vote by mail to a person who did not request the application; or(4)  completes any portion of an application to vote by mail and distributes the application to an applicant.(b)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony.(c)  Subsection (a)(2) does not apply if the public official or election official engaged in the conduct described by Subsection (a)(2) by providing access to an application to vote by mail from a publicly accessible Internet website.(d)  Subsection (a)(4) does not apply if the public official or election official engaged in the conduct described by Subsection (a)(4) while lawfully assisting the applicant under Section 84.003.(e)  Subsection (a) does not apply if the public official or election official:(1)  provided general information about voting by mail, the vote by mail process, or the timelines associated with voting to a person or the public; or(2)  engaged in the conduct described by Subsection (a) while acting in the official's capacity as a candidate for a public elective office.(f)  The remedy provided under this chapter is cumulative, and does not restrict any other remedies provided by this code or by law.  A violation of this section is subject to injunctive relief or mandamus as provided by this code.|Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 7.04, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 276.017 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 276 - Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions|Section 276.017. Unlawful Distribution of Early Voting Ballots and Balloting Materials

Sec. 276.017.  UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION OF EARLY VOTING BALLOTS AND BALLOTING MATERIALS.  (a)  The early voting clerk or other election official commits an offense if the clerk or official knowingly mails or otherwise provides an early voting ballot by mail or other early voting by mail ballot materials to a person who the clerk or official knows did not submit an application for a ballot to be voted by mail under Section 84.001.(b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.|Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 7.04, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 276.018 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 276 - Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions|Section 276.018. Perjury in Connection With Certain Election Procedures

Sec. 276.018.  PERJURY IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN ELECTION PROCEDURES.  (a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to deceive, the person knowingly or intentionally makes a false statement or swears to the truth of a false statement:(1)  on a voter registration application; or(2)  previously made while making an oath, declaration, or affidavit described by this code.(b)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony.|Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 7.04, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 276.019 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 276 - Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions|Section 276.019. Unlawful Altering of Election Procedures

Sec. 276.019.  UNLAWFUL ALTERING OF ELECTION PROCEDURES.  A public official or election official may not create, alter, modify, waive, or suspend any election standard, practice, or procedure mandated by law or rule in a manner not expressly authorized by this code.|Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 7.04, eff. December 2, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 277.001 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 277 - Petition Prescribed by Law Outside Code|Section 277.001. Applicability of Chapter

Sec. 277.001.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  This chapter applies to a petition authorized or required to be filed under a law outside this code in connection with an election.|Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 54, Sec. 16(c), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.  Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 728, Sec. 81, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1235 (S.B. 1970), Sec. 25, eff. September 1, 2009.|
TX Elec COde § 277.002 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 277 - Petition Prescribed by Law Outside Code|Section 277.002. Validity of Petition Signatures

Sec. 277.002.  VALIDITY OF PETITION SIGNATURES.  (a)  For a petition signature to be valid, a petition must:(1)  contain in addition to the signature:(A)  the signer's printed name;(B)  the signer's:(i)  date of birth; or(ii)  voter registration number and, if the territory from which signatures must be obtained is situated in more than one county, the county of registration;(C)  the signer's residence address; and(D)  the date of signing; and(2)  comply with any other applicable requirements prescribed by law.(b)  The signature is the only information that is required to appear on the petition in the signer's own handwriting.(c)  The use of ditto marks or abbreviations does not invalidate a signature if the required information is reasonably ascertainable.(d)  The omission of the state from the signer's residence address does not invalidate a signature unless the political subdivision from which the signature is obtained is situated in more than one state.  The omission of the zip code from the address does not invalidate a signature.(e)  A petition signature is invalid if the signer signed the petition earlier than the 180th day before the date the petition is filed.(f)  The signer's residence address and the address listed on the signer's registration are not required to be the same if the signer is eligible to vote under Section 11.004 or 112.002.|Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 54, Sec. 16(c), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.  Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 728, Sec. 82, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1349, Sec. 73, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1316, Sec. 43, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1107 (H.B. 2309), Sec. 1.25(a), eff. September 1, 2005.Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 711 (H.B. 3107), Sec. 97, eff. September 1, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 277.0021 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 277 - Petition Prescribed by Law Outside Code|Section 277.0021. Meaning of Qualified Voter

Sec. 277.0021.  MEANING OF QUALIFIED VOTER.  A reference in a law outside this code to "qualified voter" in the context of eligibility to sign a petition means "registered voter."|Added by Acts 1989, 71st leg., ch. 483, Sec. 1 , eff. Sept. 1, 1989.|
TX Elec COde § 277.0022 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 277 - Petition Prescribed by Law Outside Code|Section 277.0022. Withdrawal of Signature

Sec. 277.0022.  WITHDRAWAL OF SIGNATURE.  (a)  A signer may not withdraw the signature from a petition on or after the date the petition is received by the authority with whom it is required to be filed.  Before that date, a signer may withdraw the signature by deleting the signature from the petition or by filing with the authority with whom the petition is required to be filed an affidavit requesting that the signature be withdrawn from the petition.(b)  A withdrawal affidavit filed by mail is considered to be filed at the time of its receipt by the appropriate authority.(c)  The withdrawal of a signature nullifies the signature on the petition and places the signer in the same position as if the signer had not signed the petition.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 728, Sec. 83, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|Sec. 277.0023.  SUPPLEMENTING PETITION.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a petition may not be supplemented, modified, or amended on or after the date it is received by the authority with whom it is required to be filed unless expressly authorized by law.(b)  If a petition is required to be filed by a specified deadline, the petitioner may file one supplementary petition by that deadline if the original petition contains a number of signatures that exceeds the required minimum number by 10 percent or more and is received by the authority with whom it is required to be filed not later than the 10th day before the date of the deadline.  The authority shall notify the petitioner as to the sufficiency of the petition not later than the fifth regular business day after the date of its receipt.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 728, Sec. 83, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|
TX Elec COde § 277.0024 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 277 - Petition Prescribed by Law Outside Code|Section 277.0024. Computing Number of Signatures

Sec. 277.0024.  COMPUTING NUMBER OF SIGNATURES.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), if the minimum number of signatures required for a petition is determined by a computation applied to the number of registered voters of a particular territory, voters whose names appear on the list of registered voters with the notation "S", or a similar notation, shall be excluded from the computation.(b)  The signature of a voter whose name appears on the list of registered voters with the notation "S", or a similar notation, is considered valid if the voter:(1)  is otherwise eligible to vote in the territory; and(2)  provides a residence address located in the territory.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 797, Sec. 43, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 711 (H.B. 3107), Sec. 98, eff. September 1, 2021.|
TX Elec COde § 277.003 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 277 - Petition Prescribed by Law Outside Code|Section 277.003. Verifying Signatures by Statistical Sample

Sec. 277.003.  VERIFYING SIGNATURES BY STATISTICAL SAMPLE.  If a petition contains more than 1,000 signatures, the city secretary or other authority responsible for verifying the signatures may use any reasonable statistical sampling method in determining whether the petition contains the required number of valid signatures, except that the sample may not be less than 25 percent of the total number of signatures appearing on the petition or 1,000, whichever is greater.  If the signatures on a petition circulated on a statewide basis are to be verified by the secretary of state, the sample prescribed by Section 141.069 applies to the petition rather than the sample prescribed by this section.|Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 54, Sec. 16(c), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.|
TX Elec COde § 277.004 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 277 - Petition Prescribed by Law Outside Code|Section 277.004. Effect of City Charter or Ordinance

Sec. 277.004.  EFFECT OF CITY CHARTER OR ORDINANCE.  Any requirements for the validity or verification of petition signatures in addition to those prescribed by this chapter that are prescribed by a home-rule city charter provision or a city ordinance are effective only if the charter provision or ordinance was in effect September 1, 1985.|Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 54, Sec. 16(c), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.|
TX Elec COde § 278.001 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 278 - Voter Information Guide for Judicial Elections|Section 278.001. Applicability of Chapter

Sec. 278.001.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  This chapter applies to each candidate whose name is to appear on the ballot or a list of declared write-in candidates in a judicial election.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1285, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.|
TX Elec COde § 278.002 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 278 - Voter Information Guide for Judicial Elections|Section 278.002. Internet Voter Information Guide

Sec. 278.002.  INTERNET VOTER INFORMATION GUIDE.  The secretary of state may implement a voter information service program to:(1)  compile information on candidates for election in the form of a voter information guide;  and(2)  make the guide available to the public on the Internet.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1285, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.|
TX Elec COde § 278.003 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 278 - Voter Information Guide for Judicial Elections|Section 278.003. Statement Filed by Candidate

Sec. 278.003.  STATEMENT FILED BY CANDIDATE.  If the secretary of state implements a voter information service program, a candidate may file with the secretary not later than the 70th day before the date of the judicial election an informational statement, on a form prescribed by the secretary, to be included in the voter information guide for that election.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1285, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.|
TX Elec COde § 278.004 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 278 - Voter Information Guide for Judicial Elections|Section 278.004. Statement Requirements

Sec. 278.004.  STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS.  (a)  A candidate's statement must include a summary of the following information:(1)  current occupation;(2)  educational and occupational background;(3)  biographical information;  and(4)  any previous experience serving in government.(b)  The secretary of state may prescribe the format and length of the candidate's statement.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1285, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.|
TX Elec COde § 278.005 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Election Code|Title 16 - Miscellaneous Provisions|Chapter 278 - Voter Information Guide for Judicial Elections|Section 278.005. Review by Secretary of State

Sec. 278.005.  REVIEW BY SECRETARY OF STATE.  (a)  Not later than the fifth day after the date the candidate's statement is received, the secretary of state may review the statement to determine whether it complies with this chapter.(b)  If the secretary of state determines that the statement does not comply with the applicable requirements, the secretary may reject the statement and deliver written notice of the reason for the rejection to the candidate not later than the second day after the date of rejection.(c)  A candidate whose statement is rejected may resubmit the statement subject to the prescribed deadline.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1285, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.|