Lavaca County Republican Party of TEXAS
Extended Weekday Early Voting Hours for Early Voting by Personal Appearance at the Main Early Voting Polling Place House Bill 1217 amended Section 85.005(c) of the Code to modify the required days and hours for early voting by personal appearance at the main early voting polling place. House Bill 1217 removed the population threshold that required only counties above a certain population to provide extended weekday early voting hours. House Bill 1217 also repealed the provision that required counties below a certain population threshold to provide extended weekday early voting if the early voting clerk received a written request submitted by at least 15 registered voters of the county. As a result, the same extended early voting hours at the main early voting polling place now apply to ALL counties regardless of their population.
Primary Election and General Election for State and County Officers In ALL counties (regardless of population), voting in a primary election or the general election for state and county officers shall be conducted at the main early voting polling place for at least 12 consecutive hours on each weekday of the last week of the early voting period. Voting may not be conducted earlier than 6:00 AM or later than 10:00 PM. (Sec. 85.005(c)).
Special Election Ordered by the Governor In ALL counties (regardless of population), voting in a special election ordered by the Governor shall be conducted at the main early voting polling place for at least 12 consecutive hours on each of the last two days of the early voting period. Voting may not be conducted earlier than 6:00 AM or later than 10:00 PM. (Sec. 85.005(c)). This means that for the November 7, 2023 constitutional amendment election, all counties must provide at least 12 consecutive hours at the main early voting polling place on each of the last two days of the early voting period, Thursday, November 2, 2023 and Friday, November 3, 2023.
Local Political Subdivisions (Not Counties) Per Section 85.005(b) of the Code, early voting by personal appearance at the main early voting polling place shall be conducted for at least nine (9) hours each weekday of the early voting period that is not a legal state holiday. For territories with less than 1,000 registered voters, voting shall be conducted for at least four (4) hours each day. If a city, school, or other political subdivision chooses to conduct extended weekday early voting, the entity MUST include that information in the original order of election. There is no requirement that a political subdivision conduct extended weekday early voting hours upon receipt of a written request signed by at least 15 registered voters of the political subdivision. (NOTE: This is different from the process for extended weekend early voting hours, as discussed below.) Moreover, Section 85.005 of the Code no longer requires cities to choose two weekdays for the main early voting polling place location to be open for at least 12 hours during the regular early voting period
Extended Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) Early Voting Hours for Early Voting by Personal Appearance at the Main Early Voting Polling Place House Bill 1217 amended Section 85.006(e) of the Code to modify the required weekend days and hours for early voting by personal appearance at the main early voting polling place for counties. House Bill 1217 removed the population threshold that required only counties above a certain population to provide extended weekend early voting hours for the primary election and the general election for state and county officers. House Bill 1217 also repealed the provision that required counties below a certain population threshold to provide extended weekend early voting in these elections if the early voting clerk received a written request submitted by at least 15 registered voters of the county. As a result, the same extended weekend early voting hours now apply to ALL counties regardless of their population for the primary election and the general election for state and county officers.
Primary Election and General Election for State and County Officers In a primary election or the general election for state and county officers, the early voting clerk in ALL counties (regardless of population) must order early voting by personal appearance at the main early voting polling place to be conducted on the last Saturday of the early voting period for at least 12 consecutive hours, except that voting may not be conducted earlier than 6:00 AM or later than 10:00 PM, and on the last Sunday of the early voting period for at least six (6) consecutive hours, except that voting may not be conducted earlier than 9:00 AM or later than 10:00 PM. (Sec. 85.006(e)).
Special Election Ordered by the Governor and All Other County-Ordered Elections The county election officer may order early voting on a Saturday and/or Sunday, and determine the hours for such Saturday or Sunday early voting, for a special election ordered by the Governor (such as the constitutional amendment election on November 7, 2023) and all other county-ordered elections. This must be done by written order (PDF). (Secs. 85.006(b), 85.006(c)). Notice (PDF) of Saturday or Sunday early voting must be posted for at least 72 hours immediately preceding the first hour that voting will be conducted. (Sec. 85.007(c)). The county election officer must have early voting on Saturday or Sunday (or both), if a written request (PDF) is received from at least 15 registered voters of the county in time to comply with the posting requirement. (Secs. 85.006(d), 85.007). Note: The election notice must be subsequently amended to include voting later ordered for ANY Saturday or Sunday and must be posted on the political subdivision’s website, if maintained. (Sec. 85.007).
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Amy Kloesel Elections Administrator Lavaca County
412 N. Texana P.O. Box 727 Hallettsville, Texas 77964
Phone: 361-798-3594 Fax: 361-798-4016