CHAPTER 12. VOTER REGISTRAR - Texas Statutes

ELECTION CODE

TITLE 2. VOTER QUALIFICATIONS AND REGISTRATION

CHAPTER 12. VOTER REGISTRAR

SUBCHAPTER A. VOTER REGISTRAR

Sec. 12.001. DESIGNATION OF VOTER REGISTRAR. The county tax

assessor-collector is the voter registrar for the county unless

the position of county elections administrator is created or the

county clerk is designated as the voter registrar.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Sec. 12.002. ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS. The registrar may

administer and certify an oath under the seal of office if the

oath is required in connection with the registrar's

responsibilities under this code.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Sec. 12.003. FEES PROHIBITED. The registrar may not charge a

fee for performing a function in connection with voter

registration unless expressly authorized to do so by law.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Sec. 12.004. OFFICE HOURS. (a) The registrar shall conduct

voter registration activities at all times during regular office

hours.

(b) The registrar may keep the office open for voter

registration activities at times other than regular office hours.

The registrar shall post notice of the irregular days and hours

the office will be open. The notice must remain posted

continuously at each entrance to the registrar's office for the

period beginning not later than the third day before the day the

office is to be open during irregular hours and ending after the

last time specified in the notice for the office to be open.

(c) The registrar's office shall remain open for voter

registration activities during the hours the polls are required

to be open for voting on the date of any general or primary

election in which a statewide office appears on the ballot or any

other election held in the county on a uniform election date.

(d) If early voting by personal appearance is required to be

conducted for extended hours under Section 85.005(c) or for

weekend hours under Section 85.006(e), the registrar's office

shall remain open for providing voter registration information

during the extended hours or weekend hours that the main early

voting polling place is open for voting.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended

by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 54, Sec. 1(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987;

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 916, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 12.005. BRANCH OFFICES. The registrar may establish one or

more branch offices in the county to conduct voter registration

activities for the convenience of persons desiring to register. A

branch office may be temporary or permanent.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Sec. 12.006. REGULAR DEPUTY REGISTRARS. (a) The registrar may

appoint one or more deputy registrars to assist in the

registration of voters.

(b) In this code, "regular deputy registrar" means a deputy

registrar appointed under this section.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a regular deputy

registrar has the same authority as the registrar, subject to the

registrar's supervision.

(d) A regular deputy registrar may not hear or determine a

challenge under this title.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

SUBCHAPTER B. COUNTY CLERK AS VOTER REGISTRAR

Sec. 12.031. DESIGNATION OF COUNTY CLERK AS VOTER REGISTRAR.

The commissioners court by written order may designate the county

clerk as the voter registrar for the county if the county clerk

and county tax assessor-collector agree to the designation.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Sec. 12.032. DESIGNATION ORDER. (a) The order designating the

county clerk as the voter registrar must state the effective date

of the transfer of voter registration duties and functions to the

county clerk.

(b) The county clerk shall deliver a certified copy of the order

to the secretary of state and comptroller of public accounts not

later than the third day after the date the order is adopted.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Sec. 12.033. APPROPRIATION BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. The amount

initially appropriated by the commissioners court for the voter

registration activities of the county clerk may not be less than

the amount last appropriated to the county's voter registrar for

the same purpose.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Sec. 12.034. RESCISSION OF DESIGNATION ORDER. (a) The

commissioners court by written order may rescind the order

designating the county clerk as the voter registrar at any time

after two years have elapsed from the date the order was adopted,

to become effective on a date stated in the order.

(b) Not later than the third day after the date the rescission

order is adopted, the county clerk shall deliver a certified copy

of the order to the secretary of state and comptroller of public

accounts.

(c) On the effective date of the rescission, the county tax

assessor-collector is the voter registrar for the county unless

the position of county elections administrator is created.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.