2017 Countywide Election Precinct Program Deadlines

To:	County Clerks/Election Administrators
From:	Keith Ingram, Director of Elections
Date:	December 7, 2016
RE:	Application Deadlines for Countywide Election Precincts Polling Places in Countywide Elections Held on May 6, 2017 and November 7, 2017 Uniform Election Dates

This memorandum is to remind you of the deadlines for submitting county applications to participate in the countywide election precinct polling place program (“the program”) for the May 6, 2017 and November 7, 2017 Uniform Election dates.

Below are the detailed schedules for implementing the Countywide Election Precincts Program for the May 6, 2017 and November 7, 2017 uniform election dates.

Schedule for implementing countywide election precincts for May 6, 2017 election:

Monday, February 20, 2017 ─ Deadline for counties to submit their proposed plan (detailing the county’s ability to comply with items 1-3 above) to Secretary of State. Note that counties that have participated in previous countywide election precincts programs are not required to hold a public hearing under Section 43.007(b), though we urge that they do so. Counties that have not previously participated in a countywide program will have to include a recording of the public hearing as part of the proposed plan which will necessitate more lead time for the process which may require them to initiate the process earlier than previously participating counties.
Friday, March 10, 2017 ─ Deadline for Secretary of State to approve proposed local plans for the program and provide detailed guidance on the information that will be requested from the Secretary of State and that will be included in the final legislative report. The counties will be required to submit this information to the Secretary of State no later than 30 days after the election.
Monday, June 5, 2017 ─ Deadline for county clerk/elections administrator to submit election report to Secretary of State.

Schedule for implementing countywide election precincts for November 7, 2017 election:

Thursday, August 24, 2017 ─ Deadline for counties to submit their proposed plan (detailing the county’s ability to comply with items 1-3 above) to Secretary of State. Note that counties that have participated in previous countywide programs are not required to hold a public hearing under Section 43.007(b), though we urge that they do so. Counties that have not previously participated in a countywide program will have to include a public hearing as part of the proposed plan which will necessitate more lead time for the process which may require them to initiate the process earlier than previously participating counties.
Thursday, September 14, 2017 ─ Deadline for Secretary of State to approve proposed local plans for the countywide program and provide detailed guidance on the information that will be requested from the Secretary of State and that will be included in the final legislative report. The counties will be required to submit this information to the Secretary of State no later than 30 days after the election.
Thursday, December 7, 2017 ─ Deadline for county clerk/elections administrator to submit election report to Secretary of State.

If you are interested in participating, or if you need more information, please contact Heidi Martinez or call our office toll-free at 1-800-252-2216.

KI:AM