Special-election ballot applications must be filed by the stated deadline, and write-in candidacy declarations must also be filed by that deadline.
Sec. 201.054. FILING PERIOD FOR APPLICATION FOR PLACE ON BALLOT. (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 day before election day, if election day is on or after the 46th day and before the 70th day after the date the election is ordered. (b) If a special election is to be held as an emergency election and a law outside this code prescribes a filing deadline, that deadline applies. (c) The election order must state the filing deadline. (d) An application may not be filed before the election is ordered. (e) An application filed by mail is considered to be filed at the time of its receipt by the appropriate authority. (f) For a special election to be held on the date of the general election for state and county officers, the filing deadline is 6 p.m. of the 75th day before election day. (g) A declaration of write-in candidacy for a special election must be filed not later than the filing deadline prescribed by this section. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Renumbered from Election Code Sec. 201.055 by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 389, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1109 (H.B. 2339), Sec. 27, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1235 (S.B. 1970), Sec. 19, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1318 (S.B. 100), Sec. 40, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1178 (S.B. 910), Sec. 19, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 84 (S.B. 1703), Sec. 28, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 476 (H.B. 2323), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.