85R9499 SRS-D     By: Fallon H.B. No. 3994       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to jointly held elections for political subdivisions.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 31.0925(b), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The governing body of a political subdivision shall   request an election services contract with the county elections   administrator to perform all duties and functions of the political   subdivision in relation to an election that may be transferred   under this subchapter [if the political subdivision receives a   petition requesting the contract signed by a number of registered   voters residing in the political subdivision that is equal to or   exceeds one percent of all votes cast in the most recent general   election held by the political subdivision].          SECTION 2.  Sections 271.002(a) and (b), Election Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  If the elections ordered by the authorities of two or   more political subdivisions are to be held on the same day in all or   part of the same county, the governing bodies of the political   subdivisions shall [may] enter into an agreement to hold the   elections jointly in the election precincts that can be served by   common polling places, subject to Section 271.003.          (b)  If an election ordered by the governor and the elections   ordered by the authorities of one or more political subdivisions   are to be held on the same day in all or part of the same county, the   commissioners court of a county in which the election ordered by the   governor is to be held and the governing bodies of the other   political subdivisions shall [may] enter into an agreement to hold   the elections jointly in the election precincts that can be served   by common polling places, subject to Section 271.003.          SECTION 3.  Section 271.003(a), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A regular county polling place shall [may] be used for a   common polling place in a joint election.          SECTION 4.  Section 271.007, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 271.007.  BALLOT. Where possible, a [A] single ballot   containing all the offices or propositions stating measures to be   voted on at a particular polling place shall [may] be used in a   joint election. A voter may not be permitted to select a ballot   containing an office or proposition stating a measure on which the   voter is ineligible to vote.          SECTION 5.  Sections 31.0925(a) and (c), 42.002(c), and   271.002(c), Election Code, are repealed.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.