Title EL, Election Code

Sec. 243.011. ATTENDANCE OF WITNESSES. (a) The governor has the same authority as a district court in an election contest to require the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence. The secretary of state shall issue in the name of the governor subpoenas or other proce…

Sec. 243.012. DISPOSITION OF CONTEST. (a) The governor shall determine the outcome of the contested election and render the decision not later than the seventh day before the date set by law for the meeting of the electors. (b) The decision shall declare which set of presidential…

Sec. 243.013. COSTS OF CONTEST. The governor may assess the costs of the contest against any one or more of the parties. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 163, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 247.001. PETITION ALLEGING FRAUD. This chapter applies to a civil suit in which a candidate in an election alleges in the petition that an opposing candidate, an agent of the opposing candidate, or a person acting on behalf of the opposing candidate with the candidate's know…

Sec. 247.002. PROCEDURE. A candidate in an election may file a petition for an action under this chapter in any county where a defendant resided at the time of the election. If the election is for a statewide office, the candidate may also file the petition in a district court in…

Sec. 247.003. FILING PERIOD FOR PETITION. A candidate in an election may file a petition for an action under this chapter not earlier than the day after the date the election is certified and not later than the 45th day after the later of that date or the date election records ar…

Sec. 247.004. DAMAGES. (a) If it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that a defendant, an agent of the defendant, or a person acting on behalf of the defendant with the defendant's knowledge committed one or more violations of a section described by Section 247.001, the d…

Sec. 247.005. ATTORNEY'S FEES. In an action under this chapter, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 8.03, eff. December 2, 2021.

Sec. 251.001. DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) "Candidate" means a person who knowingly and willingly takes affirmative action for the purpose of gaining nomination or election to public office or for the purpose of satisfying financial obligations incurred by the person in connec…

Sec. 251.0015. COMMUNICATION WITH CANDIDATE. For purposes of Section 251.001(8), communication between a person and a candidate, officeholder, or candidate's or officeholder's agent is not evidence that the person obtained the candidate's or officeholder's consent or approval for…

Sec. 251.0016. COMMON VENDOR. A person using the same vendor as a candidate, officeholder, or political committee established or controlled by a candidate or officeholder is not acting in concert with the candidate, officeholder, or committee to make a campaign expenditure unless…

Sec. 251.002. OFFICEHOLDERS COVERED. (a) The provisions of this title applicable to an officeholder apply only to a person who holds an elective public office and to the secretary of state. (b) For purposes of this title, a state officer-elect or a member-elect of the legislature…

Sec. 251.003. PROHIBITION OF DOCUMENT FILING FEE. A charge may not be made for filing a document required to be filed under this title. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 251.004. VENUE. (a) Venue for a criminal offense prescribed by this title is in the county of residence of the defendant, unless the defendant is not a Texas resident, in which case venue is in Travis County. (b) Venue for the recovery of delinquent civil penalties imposed b…

Sec. 251.005. OUT-OF-STATE COMMITTEES EXCLUDED. (a) An out-of-state political committee is not subject to Chapter 252 or 254, except as provided by Subsection (b), (c), or (d). (b) If an out-of-state committee decides to file a campaign treasurer appointment under Chapter 252, at…

Sec. 251.006. FEDERAL OFFICE EXCLUDED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), this title does not apply to a candidate for an office of the federal government. (b) A candidate for an elective office of the federal government shall file with the commission a copy of each docume…

Sec. 251.007. TIMELINESS OF ACTION BY MAIL. When this title requires a notice, report, or other document or paper to be delivered, submitted, or filed within a specified period or before a specified deadline, a delivery, submission, or filing by first-class United States mail or …

Sec. 251.008. CERTAIN POLITICAL CLUB MEETINGS EXCLUDED. (a) An expense incurred in connection with the conduct of a meeting of an organization or club affiliated with a political party at which a candidate for an office regularly filled at the general election for state and count…

Sec. 251.009. LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS CONTRIBUTION OR EXPENDITURE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE OFFICEHOLDER CONTRIBUTION OR EXPENDITURE. A contribution to or expenditure by a legislative caucus, as defined by Section 253.0341, is not considered to be an officeholder contribution or officehold…

Sec. 251.032. FORMS. In addition to furnishing samples of the appropriate forms to the authorities having administrative duties under this title, the commission shall furnish the forms to each political party's state executive committee and county chair of each county executive c…

Sec. 251.033. NOTIFICATION OF DEADLINE FOR FILING REPORTS. (a) The commission shall notify each person responsible for filing a report with the commission under Subchapters C through F, Chapter 254, of the deadline for filing a report, except that notice of the deadline is not re…

Sec. 252.001. APPOINTMENT OF CAMPAIGN TREASURER REQUIRED. Each candidate and each political committee shall appoint a campaign treasurer as provided by this chapter. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 252.0011. INELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT AS CAMPAIGN TREASURER. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c), a person is ineligible for appointment as a campaign treasurer if the person is the campaign treasurer of a political committee that does not file a report require…

Sec. 252.002. CONTENTS OF APPOINTMENT. (a) A campaign treasurer appointment must be in writing and include: (1) the campaign treasurer's name; (2) the campaign treasurer's residence or business street address; (3) the campaign treasurer's telephone number; and (4) the name of the…

Sec. 252.003. CONTENTS OF APPOINTMENT BY GENERAL-PURPOSE COMMITTEE. (a) In addition to the information required by Section 252.002, a campaign treasurer appointment by a general-purpose committee must include: (1) the full name, and any acronym of the name that will be used in th…

Sec. 252.0031. CONTENTS OF APPOINTMENT BY SPECIFIC-PURPOSE COMMITTEE. (a) In addition to the information required by Section 252.002, a campaign treasurer appointment by a specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a candidate for an office specified by Section 252.005…

Sec. 252.0032. CONTENTS OF APPOINTMENT BY CANDIDATE. (a) In addition to the information required by Section 252.002, a campaign treasurer appointment by a candidate must include: (1) the candidate's telephone number; and (2) a statement, signed by the candidate, that the candidat…

Sec. 252.004. DESIGNATION OF ONESELF. An individual may appoint himself or herself as campaign treasurer. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 238, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 252.005. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED: CANDIDATE. An individual must file a campaign treasurer appointment for the individual's own candidacy with: (1) the commission, if the appointment is made for candidacy for: (A) a statewide office; (B) a district office filled…

Sec. 252.006. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED: SPECIFIC-PURPOSE COMMITTEE FOR SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING CANDIDATE OR ASSISTING OFFICEHOLDER. A specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a candidate or assisting an officeholder must file its campaign treasurer appoin…

Sec. 252.007. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED: SPECIFIC-PURPOSE COMMITTEE FOR SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING MEASURE. A specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a measure must file its campaign treasurer appointment with: (1) the commission, if the measure is to be sub…

Sec. 252.008. MULTIPLE FILINGS BY SPECIFIC-PURPOSE COMMITTEE NOT REQUIRED. If under this chapter a specific-purpose committee is required to file its campaign treasurer appointment with more than one authority, the appointment need only be filed with the commission and, if so fil…

Sec. 252.009. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED: GENERAL-PURPOSE COMMITTEE. A general-purpose committee must file its campaign treasurer appointment with the commission. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. …

Sec. 252.010. TRANSFER OF APPOINTMENT. (a) If a candidate who has filed a campaign treasurer appointment decides to seek a different office that would require the appointment to be filed with another authority, a copy of the appointment certified by the authority with whom it was…

Sec. 252.011. TIME APPOINTMENT TAKES EFFECT; PERIOD OF EFFECTIVENESS. (a) A campaign treasurer appointment takes effect at the time it is filed with the authority specified by this chapter. (b) A campaign treasurer appointment continues in effect until terminated. Amended by Acts…

Sec. 252.012. REMOVAL OF CAMPAIGN TREASURER. (a) A campaign treasurer appointed under this chapter may be removed at any time by the appointing authority by filing the written appointment of a successor in the same manner as the original appointment. (b) The appointment of a succ…

Sec. 252.013. TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT ON VACATING POSITION. (a) If a campaign treasurer resigns or otherwise vacates the position, the appointment is terminated at the time the vacancy occurs. (b) A campaign treasurer who vacates the treasurer's position shall immediately noti…

Sec. 252.0131. TERMINATION OF CAMPAIGN TREASURER APPOINTMENT. (a) The commission by rule shall adopt a process by which the commission may terminate the campaign treasurer appointment of an inactive candidate or political committee that is required to file a campaign treasurer ap…

Sec. 252.014. PRESERVATION OF FILED APPOINTMENTS. The authority with whom a campaign treasurer appointment is filed under this chapter shall preserve the appointment for two years after the date the appointment is terminated. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff.…

Sec. 252.015. ASSISTANT CAMPAIGN TREASURER. (a) Each specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a candidate for an office specified by Section 252.005(1) or a statewide or district measure and each general-purpose committee may appoint an assistant campaign treasurer b…

Sec. 253.001. CONTRIBUTION OR EXPENDITURE IN ANOTHER'S NAME PROHIBITED. (a) A person may not knowingly make or authorize a political contribution in the name of or on behalf of another unless the person discloses in writing to the recipient the name and address of the person actu…

Sec. 253.003. UNLAWFULLY MAKING OR ACCEPTING CONTRIBUTION. (a) A person may not knowingly make a political contribution in violation of this chapter. (b) A person may not knowingly accept a political contribution the person knows to have been made in violation of this chapter. (c…

Sec. 253.004. UNLAWFULLY MAKING EXPENDITURE. (a) A person may not knowingly make or authorize a political expenditure in violation of this chapter. (b) This section does not apply to a political expenditure made or authorized in violation of Subchapter F. (c) A person who violate…

Sec. 253.005. EXPENDITURE FROM UNLAWFUL CONTRIBUTION. (a) A person may not knowingly make or authorize a political expenditure wholly or partly from a political contribution the person knows to have been made in violation of this chapter. (b) This section does not apply to a poli…

Sec. 253.006. CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY LOBBYISTS RESTRICTED. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person required to register under Chapter 305, Government Code, may not knowingly make or authorize a political contribution or political expenditure th…

Sec. 253.007. PROHIBITION ON LOBBYING BY PERSON MAKING OR AUTHORIZING CERTAIN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND DIRECT CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES. (a) In this section, "administrative action," "communicates directly with," "legislation," "member of the executive branch," and "member of the …