85R5567 GRM-D     By: Schofield H.B. No. 771       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requiring a presidential elector to vote for the   candidates for president and vice president who won the popular   vote in this state for those offices.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 192.003, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 192.003.  METHOD OF BECOMING ELECTOR CANDIDATE. To   become a presidential elector candidate or alternate elector, a   person must be nominated as a political party's elector candidate   or alternate elector in accordance with party rules or named as an   elector candidate or alternate elector by an independent or   write-in candidate for president.          SECTION 2.  Section 192.006, Election Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as   follows:          (a)  The electors and alternate electors shall convene at the   State Capitol at 2 p.m. on the first Monday after the second   Wednesday in December following their election and shall perform   their duties as prescribed by federal law.          (d)  An elector must cast a ballot for a candidate for   president or vice-president that corresponds to the candidates who   received the most votes cast in this state for those offices.  An   attempt to cast a ballot in a manner other than the manner required   by this subsection:                (1)  is not valid and is not considered a vote cast by   an elector; and                (2)  creates a vacancy in the position of the elector   attempting to cast the ballot.          SECTION 3.  Section 192.007, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:          (c)  A replacement elector for a vacancy created under   Section 192.006(d)(2) must be from the list of alternate electors   described by Section 192.031(c) or 192.032(i).          SECTION 4.  Section 192.008(a), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  In performing their official duties, presidential   electors and alternate electors are entitled to the same allowances   for travel expenses as those granted to state employees.          SECTION 5.  Section 192.031, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:          (c)  The party's state chair may provide a list of alternate   electors for a vacancy created under Section 192.006(d)(2) in a   number not to exceed the number of electors described by Subsection   (a)(2)(B).          SECTION 6.  Section 192.032, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:          (i)  An independent candidate may provide a list of alternate   electors for a vacancy created under Section 192.006(d)(2) in a   number not to exceed the number of electors described by Subsection   (b)(2) of this section.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.