H.B. No. 52, introduced by Schofield, seeks to delineate federal elections from state and local elections in Texas by establishing distinct practices and procedures for each. The bill defines "federal election" to include primary or general elections for federal offices while excluding presidential elector elections. It introduces new definitions for "federal judge" and "federal office," and mandates that federal elections be conducted separately from state and county elections, although they may occur at the same polling locations. Federal ballots will exclusively list candidates for federal offices, prohibiting the inclusion of state or county propositions. Additionally, the bill outlines voter registration processes for military service voters and requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules to minimize voter confusion during elections.

The legislation also amends various sections of the Election Code to clarify voter registration, candidate applications, and election procedures. It establishes that a federal postcard application submitted by an unregistered applicant counts as registration for voting in state, county, and federal elections, provided it meets specific requirements. The bill specifies the authorities for filing candidacy and withdrawal requests, ensuring consistency in terminology for different office levels. It introduces provisions for the certification of nominees and candidates, as well as the management of filing fees and campaign treasurer appointments. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the electoral process and enhance clarity for voters and candidates, taking effect 91 days after the legislative session concludes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 1.002, Election Code 1.005, Election Code 11.002, Election Code 15.003, Election Code 41.007, Election Code 42.002, Election Code 67.010, Election Code 84.014, Election Code 101.052, Election Code 101.053, Election Code 101.055, Election Code 142.005, Election Code 145.033, Election Code 145.037, Election Code 146.024, Election Code 161.008, Election Code 163.006, Election Code 172.059, Election Code 172.121, Election Code 172.122, Election Code 173.063, Election Code 181.0311, Election Code 181.032, Election Code 181.068, Election Code 231.008, Election Code 232.013, Election Code 232.048, Election Code 252.005 (Election Code 41, Election Code 101, Election Code 172, Election Code 145, Election Code 163, Election Code 161, Election Code 146, Election Code 173, Election Code 15, Election Code 252, Election Code 142, Election Code 1, Election Code 181, Election Code 67, Election Code 11, Election Code 42, Election Code 84, Election Code 232, Election Code 231)