CHAPTER 242. CONTEST FOR CONSTITUTIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE
ELECTION CODE
TITLE 14. ELECTION CONTESTS
SUBTITLE C. CONTESTS IN OTHER TRIBUNALS
CHAPTER 242. CONTEST FOR CONSTITUTIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Sec. 242.001. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter applies to
a contest of a general election for the office of governor,
lieutenant governor, comptroller of public accounts, land
commissioner, or attorney general.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended
by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1423, Sec. 6.05, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 242.002. CONDUCT OF CONTEST GENERALLY. (a) Except as
otherwise provided by this chapter, the applicable provisions of
Chapter 241 govern an election contest under this chapter.
(b) Two copies of the petition and answer must be filed with the
secretary of state. The secretary shall deliver one copy of each
document to the presiding officer of each house of the
legislature. Security for costs must be filed with the chief
clerk of the house of representatives. Any cost bond must be
payable to both houses.
(c) The presiding officers of the two houses of the legislature
shall act jointly in appointing a master of discovery and in
setting the amount of and approving the sureties on a cost bond.
The master may be a member of either house.
(d) The presiding officers shall refer the contest to a
committee constituted in accordance with joint rules of the two
legislative houses. Unless otherwise provided by joint rule, the
referral is not effective until both presiding officers make the
referral.
(e) The committee shall make its report to both houses of the
legislature, and the two houses shall consider the report and
dispose of the contest in joint session.
(f) Any legislative rules applicable to a contest under this
chapter must be joint rules.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended
by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 759, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Sec. 242.003. CONTEST FOR OFFICE OF GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR. (a) This section applies only to a contest for the
office of governor or lieutenant governor.
(b) For purposes of a contest under this section, the date the
official result of the contested election is determined is the
date the governor completes the state canvass. The official
result is determined from the tabulation of the election returns
prepared by the secretary of state, except as provided by
Subsection (d).
(c) The secretary of state shall deliver a certified copy of the
tabulation to each of the presiding officers.
(d) The committee to which the contest is referred may treat the
tabulation as correct until the speaker of the house of
representatives opens and publishes the official election
returns. If a discrepancy exists between the tabulation and the
speaker's official count that might be material to a
determination of the contest, the committee shall investigate the
discrepancy to ascertain, if possible, the correct vote count.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended
by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 163, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1989;
Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 759, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Sec. 242.004. ACCELERATED ELECTION SCHEDULE. The time intervals
for conducting a special election to fill a vacancy in the office
of state senator or state representative occurring during a
regular legislative session apply to any election necessary under
the judgment in an election contest under this chapter.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.