This section lets election officials order early voting on Saturdays or Sundays, and in some cases requires it when enough registered voters ask.
Text of section prior to repeal by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1184 (S.B. 2753), Sec. 31(3), eff. September 1, 2025. Applies to elections ordered before the date the Secretary of State issues the report required by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1184 (S.B. 2753), Sec. 32, eff. September 1, 2025. Sec. 85.006. VOTING ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the authority ordering an election may order early voting by personal appearance at the main early voting polling place to be conducted on one or more Saturdays or Sundays during the early voting period. (b) In an election in which a county clerk is the early voting clerk under Section 83.002, only the early voting clerk may order voting on a Saturday or Sunday. The clerk must do so by written order. (c) The authority ordering voting on a Saturday or Sunday shall determine the hours during which voting is to be conducted. (d) The authority authorized to order early voting on a Saturday or Sunday under Subsection (a) or (b) shall order the voting under the applicable subsection on receipt of a written request submitted by at least 15 registered voters of the territory covered by the election. The request must be submitted in time to enable compliance with Section 85.007. The authority is not required to order the voting on a particular date specified by the request but shall order the voting on at least one Saturday if a Saturday is requested and on at least one Sunday if a Sunday is requested. (e) In a primary election or the general election for state and county officers, the early voting clerk shall order 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 a.m. or later than 10 p.m., and on the last Sunday of the early voting period for at least six consecutive hours, except that voting may not be conducted earlier than 9 a.m. or later than 10 p.m. This subsection supersedes any provision of this subchapter to the extent of any conflict. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 472, Sec. 25, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1142, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 1.08; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 3.10, eff. December 2, 2021. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 679 (H.B. 1217), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2023. Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1184 (S.B. 2753), Sec. 31(3), eff. September 1, 2025.