89R15641 MLH-F By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2820 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the number of polling places in certain counties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 43.007, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsection (m) and adding Subsection (m-1) to read as follows: (m) In adopting a methodology under Subsection (f), the county must ensure that: (1) each county commissioners precinct contains at least one countywide polling place; [and] (2) the total number of polling places open for voting in a county commissioners precinct does not exceed more than twice the number of polling places in another county commissioners precinct; and (3) in a county with a population of more than 1 million, the number of polling places within the boundary of a state representative district may not differ from the number of polling places within the boundary of another state representative district in the county by more than one. (m-1) For purposes of Subsection (m)(3), a state representative district located in more than one county shall have a number of polling places required by that subdivision reduced in proportion to the number of qualified voters from that state representative district who reside in the county, as determined by the secretary of state. SECTION 2. Section 85.062, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (d) In a primary election, the general election for state and county officers, or a special election to fill a vacancy in the legislature or in congress: (1) the commissioners court of a county with a population of 1 million [400,000] or more shall establish one or more early voting polling places other than the main early voting polling place in each state representative district containing territory covered by the election, except that: (A) the polling place or places shall be established in the state senatorial or congressional district, as applicable, in a special election to fill a vacancy in the office of state senator or United States representative; and (B) the number of early voting polling places within the boundary of a state representative district may not differ from the number of early voting polling places within the boundary of another state representative district in the county by more than one; (2) the commissioners court of a county with a population of 120,000 or more but less than 1 million [400,000] shall establish one or more early voting polling places other than the main early voting polling place in each commissioners precinct containing territory covered by the election; and (3) the early voting clerk of a county with a population of 100,000 or more but less than 120,000 shall establish one or more early voting polling places as described by Subdivision (2) in each precinct for which the early voting clerk receives in time to enable compliance with Section 85.067 a written request for that action submitted by at least 15 registered voters of that precinct. (e) For purposes of Subsection (d)(1)(B), a state representative district located in more than one county shall have a number of polling places required by that paragraph reduced in proportion to the number of qualified voters from that state representative district who reside in the county, as determined by the secretary of state. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.