House Bill No. 37 seeks to delineate federal elections from state and local elections in Texas by establishing distinct practices and procedures for each. The bill amends the Election Code to redefine "federal election" to specifically pertain to elections for federal offices, excluding presidential electors, and introduces new definitions for "federal judge" and "federal office." It mandates that federal elections must not include propositions or elections for state or county offices on their ballots, while also encouraging the concurrent scheduling of federal and state elections using the same precincts and polling locations. Additionally, the bill outlines voter registration procedures for federal elections, particularly for military service voters and those temporarily residing outside the U.S., and ensures that voting procedures align with federal law.

The legislation further clarifies and updates processes related to voter registration and candidate nominations for various offices. It establishes that the submission of a federal postcard application by an unregistered applicant counts as registration for voting in elections for both state and county officers, as well as federal officers, provided it meets specific requirements. The bill also specifies the authorities responsible for handling applications for ballot placements, withdrawal requests, and declarations of write-in candidacy, emphasizing the roles of the secretary of state and county judges. Several insertions are made to ensure consistent terminology throughout the Election Code, particularly regarding the classification of offices, which aims to streamline the election process and enhance clarity for candidates and election officials. The bill is set to take effect 91 days after the end of the legislative session.

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 145, Election Code 163, Election Code 15, Election Code 142, Election Code 252, Election Code 172, Election Code 67, Election Code 161, Election Code 41, Election Code 42, Election Code 84, Election Code 232, Election Code 231, Election Code 146, Election Code 173, Election Code 1, Election Code 181, Election Code 101, Election Code 11)