S.B. No. 1703

	AN ACT
	relating to the deadlines for certain processes and procedures
	involving an election.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 11.055(a), Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(a)  An [Except as provided by Subsection (c), an]
	application of a candidate for a place on the ballot must be filed
	not later than 5 p.m. of the 78th [71st] day before the date of the
	election.  An application may not be filed earlier than the 30th
	day before the date of the filing deadline.
	SECTION 2.  Section 1.006, Election Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
	(f)  In this code:
	(1)  "National holiday" means:
	(A)  a legal public holiday under 5 U.S.C. Section
	6103; and
	(B)  if a holiday described by Paragraph (A)
	occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, a holiday taken in lieu of that
	holiday on which there is no regular United States mail delivery.
	(2)  "State holiday" means a state holiday under
	Sections 662.003(b)(1) through (6), Government Code.
	SECTION 3.  Section 3.005(c), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(c)  For an election to be held on[:
	[(1)     the date of the general election for state and
	county officers, the election shall be ordered not later than the
	78th day before election day; and
	[(2)]  a uniform election date [other than the date of
	the general election for state and county officers], the election
	shall be ordered not later than the 78th [71st] day before election
	day.
	SECTION 4.  Section 41.001(c), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(c)  Except for an election under Subsection (a) or Section
	41.0011 or a runoff election following an election held under
	Subsection (a)(2), an election may not be held within 30 days before
	or after the date of the general election for state and county
	officers, general primary election, or runoff primary election.
	SECTION 5.  Section 65.051(a), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(a)  The early voting ballot board shall verify and count
	provisional ballots as provided by this subchapter not later than
	the ninth [seventh] day after the date of an election.
	SECTION 6.  Section 86.008(a), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(a)  If on reviewing an application for a ballot to be voted
	by mail that was received on or before the 18th [12th] day before
	election day the early voting clerk determines that the application
	does not fully comply with the applicable requirements prescribed
	by this title, the clerk shall mail or otherwise deliver an official
	application form to the applicant.
	SECTION 7.  Section 87.125, Election Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
	follows:
	(a)  The early voting ballot board shall convene to count
	ballots voted by mail described by Section 86.007(d) at the time set
	by the presiding judge of the board on the ninth [sixth] day after
	the date of an election or on an earlier day if the early voting
	clerk certifies that all ballots mailed from outside the United
	States have been received.
	(a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for an election held
	on the date of the general election for state and county officers,
	the early voting ballot board shall convene to count ballots voted
	by mail described by Section 86.007(d) not later than the 13th day
	after the date of the election.
	SECTION 8.  Sections 101.052(b) and (f), Election Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(b)  A federal postcard application may be submitted at any
	time during the calendar year in which the election for which a
	ballot is requested occurs, but not later than the deadline for
	submitting a regular application for a ballot to be voted by mail
	for a voter to be entitled to receive a ballot by mail for that
	election.
	(f)  The applicant is entitled to receive only a federal
	ballot to be voted by mail under Chapter 114 if:
	(1)  the applicant submits the federal postcard
	application to the early voting clerk after the date provided by
	Subsection (e)(1) and before the deadline for submitting a regular
	application for a ballot to be voted by mail [sixth day before
	election day]; and
	(2)  the application contains the information that is
	required for registration under Title 2.
	SECTION 9.  Section 143.007(c), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(c)  For an election to be held on[:
	[(1)     the date of the general election for state and
	county officers, the day of the filing deadline is the 78th day
	before election day; and
	[(2)]  a uniform election date [other than the date of
	the general election for state and county officers], the day of the
	filing deadline is the 78th [71st] day before election day.
	SECTION 10.  Section 144.005(d), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(d)  For an election to be held on[:
	[(1)     the date of the general election for state and
	county officers, the day of the filing deadline is the 78th day
	before election day; and
	[(2)]  a uniform election date [other than the date of
	the general election for state and county officers], the day of the
	filing deadline is the 78th [71st] day before election day.
	SECTION 11.  Section 144.006, Election Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
	follows:
	(b)  For an election to be held on[:
	[(1)     the date of the general election for state and
	county officers, the day of the filing deadline is the 78th day
	before election day; and
	[(2)]  a uniform election date [other than the date of
	the general election for state and county officers], the day of the
	filing deadline is the 74th [71st] day before election day.
	(c)  A write-in candidate may not withdraw from the election
	after the 71st day before election day.
	SECTION 12.  Section 145.036(b), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  An executive committee may make a replacement
	nomination following a withdrawal only if:
	(1)  the candidate:
	(A)  withdraws because of a catastrophic illness
	that was diagnosed after the first day after the date of the regular
	filing deadline for the [62nd day before] general primary election
	[day] and the illness would permanently and continuously
	incapacitate the candidate and prevent the candidate from
	performing the duties of the office sought; and
	(B)  files with the withdrawal request a
	certificate describing the illness and signed by at least two
	licensed physicians;
	(2)  no political party that held primary elections has
	a nominee for the office sought by the withdrawing candidate as of
	the time of the withdrawal; or
	(3)  the candidate has been elected or appointed to
	fill a vacancy in another elective office or has become the nominee
	for another office.
	SECTION 13.  Sections 145.092(b) and (d), Election Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(b)  A candidate in an election for which the filing deadline
	for an application for a place on the ballot is not later than 5 p.m.
	of the 62nd day before election day may not withdraw from the
	election after 5 p.m. of the 57th [53rd] day before election day.
	(d)  A candidate in a runoff election may not withdraw from
	the election after 5 p.m. of the third day after the date of the
	final canvass for the main election.
	SECTION 14.  Section 145.096(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a candidate's name
	shall be placed on the ballot if the candidate:
	(1)  dies on or after the second day before the deadline
	for filing the candidate's application for a place on the ballot;
	(2)  is declared ineligible after 5 p.m. of the fifth
	[third] day after the deadline for filing the candidate's
	application for a place on the ballot, in an election subject to
	Section 145.092(a);
	(3)  is declared ineligible after 5 p.m. of the 57th
	[53rd] day before election day, in an election subject to Section
	145.092(b); or
	(4)  is declared ineligible after 5 p.m. of the 71st day
	before election day, in an election subject to Section 145.092(f).
	SECTION 15.  Section 146.025(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  Except as otherwise provided by this code, a [A]
	declaration of write-in candidacy:
	(1)  must be filed not later than 5 p.m. of the 78th day
	before general election day; and
	(2)[, except as otherwise provided by this code.     A
	declaration] may not be filed earlier than the 30th day before the
	date described by Subdivision (1) [of the regular filing deadline].
	SECTION 16.  Sections 146.0301(a) and (d), Election Code,
	are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A write-in candidate may not withdraw from the election
	after the 71st [67th] day before election day.
	(d)  A candidate's name shall be omitted from the list of
	write-in candidates if the candidate withdraws on or before the
	71st [67th] day before election day.
	SECTION 17.  Section 146.054, Election Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
	follows:
	(b)  For an election to be held on[:
	[(1)     the date of the general election for state and
	county officers, the day of the filing deadline is the 74th day
	before election day; and
	[(2)]  a uniform election date [other than the date of
	the general election for state and county officers], the day of the
	filing deadline is the 74th [71st] day before election day.
	(c)  A write-in candidate may not withdraw from the election
	after the 71st day before election day.
	SECTION 18.  Section 146.083, Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 146.083.  FILING DEADLINE. A declaration of write-in
	candidacy must be filed not later than 5 p.m. on the date an
	application for a place on the ballot is required to be filed. A
	write-in candidate may not withdraw from an election after 5 p.m. of
	the fifth day after the deadline for filing a declaration of
	write-in candidacy.
	SECTION 19.  Section 172.028(b), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  Not later than the ninth day after the date of the
	regular filing deadline [81st day before general primary election
	day], the state chair shall notify the county chair in each county
	in which the candidate's name is to appear on the ballot that the
	certification has been posted by the secretary of state.
	SECTION 20.  Section 172.052(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  A candidate for nomination may not withdraw from the
	general primary election after the first day after the date of the
	regular filing deadline for the [79th day before] general primary
	election [day].
	SECTION 21.  Section 172.059(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  A candidate for nomination may not withdraw from the
	runoff primary election after 5 p.m. of the 3rd [8th] day after the
	state canvass under Section 172.120 [general primary election day].
	SECTION 22.  Section 172.082(c), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(c)  The drawing shall be conducted at the county seat not
	later than the 10th day after the date of the regular filing
	deadline for the general primary election [third Tuesday in
	December of an odd-numbered year].
	SECTION 23.  Section 191.003, Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 191.003.  NOTICE OF CANDIDATES TO SECRETARY OF STATE.
	The state chair of each political party holding a presidential
	primary election shall certify the name of each presidential
	candidate who qualifies for a place on the presidential primary
	election ballot and deliver the certification to the secretary of
	state not later than the ninth day after the date of the regular
	filing deadline for the general [57th day before presidential]
	primary election [day].
	SECTION 24.  Section 192.031(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  A political party is entitled to have the names of its
	nominees for president and vice-president of the United States
	placed on the ballot in a presidential general election if:
	(1)  the nominees possess the qualifications for those
	offices prescribed by federal law;
	(2)  the party's state chair signs a written
	certification of:
	(A)  the names of the party's nominees for
	president and vice-president; and
	(B)  the names and residence addresses of
	presidential elector candidates nominated by the party, in a number
	equal to the number of presidential electors that federal law
	allocates to this state;
	(3)  the party's state chair delivers the written
	certification to the secretary of state before the later of:
	(A)  5 p.m. of the 71st [70th] day before
	presidential election day; or
	(B)  5 p.m. of the first business day after the
	date of final adjournment of the party's national presidential
	nominating convention; and
	(4)  the party is:
	(A)  required or authorized by Subchapter A of
	Chapter 172 to make its nominations by primary election; or
	(B)  entitled to have the names of its nominees
	placed on the general election ballot under Chapter 181.
	SECTION 25.  Section 192.062(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  The secretary of state shall certify in writing for
	placement on the ballot the name of a political party's replacement
	nominee for president or vice-president of the United States if:
	(1)  the original nominee withdraws, dies, or is
	declared ineligible on or before the 74th day before presidential
	election day; and
	(2)  the party's state chair delivers certification of
	the replacement nominee's name, signed by the state chair, to the
	secretary of state not later than 5 p.m. of the 71st [70th] day
	before presidential election day.
	SECTION 26.  Section 192.064(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  The secretary of state shall certify in writing for
	placement on the ballot the name of a replacement vice-presidential
	running mate for an independent candidate for president of the
	United States if:
	(1)  the original running mate withdraws, dies, or is
	declared ineligible on or before the 74th day before presidential
	election day; and
	(2)  the independent presidential candidate delivers
	certification of the replacement running mate's name, signed by the
	presidential candidate, to the secretary of state not later than 5
	p.m. of the 71st [70th] day before presidential election day.
	SECTION 27.  Section 201.052, Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 201.052.  DATE OF ELECTION. (a)  Except as otherwise
	provided by this code, a special election to fill a vacancy shall be
	held on the first authorized uniform election date occurring on or
	after the 46th [45th] day after the date the election is ordered.
	(b)  If a law outside this code authorizes the holding of the
	election on a date earlier than the 46th [45th] day after the date
	of the order, the election shall be held on the first authorized
	uniform election date occurring on or after the earliest date that
	the election could be held under that law.
	SECTION 28.  Section 201.054(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (f), a candidate's
	application for a place on a special election ballot must be filed
	not later than:
	(1)  5 p.m. of the 62nd day before election day, if
	election day is on or after the 70th day after the date the election
	is ordered; or
	(2)  5 p.m. of the 40th [45th] day before election day,
	if election day is on or after the 46th [57th] day and before the
	70th day after the date the election is ordered.
	SECTION 29.  Section 202.006(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  A political party's state, district, county, or
	precinct executive committee, as appropriate for the particular
	office, may nominate a candidate for the unexpired term if:
	(1)  in the case of a party holding a primary election,
	the vacancy occurs after the fifth day before the date of the
	regular deadline for candidates to file applications for a place on
	the ballot for the [62nd day before] general primary election
	[day]; or
	(2)  in the case of a party nominating by convention,
	the vacancy occurs after the fourth day before the date the
	convention having the power to make a nomination for the office
	convenes.
	SECTION 30.  Section 274.003(b), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  Not later than the 68th [50th] day before election day,
	the secretary of state shall deliver the certification to the
	authority responsible for having the official ballot prepared in
	each county.
	SECTION 31.  Section 11.055(c), Education Code, and Sections
	65.051(c) and 101.052(g), Election Code, are repealed.
	SECTION 32.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1703 passed the Senate on
	April 9, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1703 passed the House on
	May 5, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, two present
	not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor