Sec. 31.097. EARLY VOTING. (a) An election services contract may provide that the county election officer's deputies may serve as deputy early voting clerks even if the officer is not to serve as the early voting clerk or supervise early voting.

(b) If the county election officer is to serve as the early voting clerk or is to provide deputies to serve as deputy early voting clerks, the officer's written order appointing a permanent or temporary deputy of the officer as a deputy early voting clerk is sufficient, without the necessity for an appointment by any other authority.

(c) A permanent deputy of the county election officer is not subject to the eligibility requirements of this subsection. For a temporary deputy of the officer to be eligible for appointment as a deputy early voting clerk, the deputy must have the qualifications for appointment as a presiding election judge except that:

(1) an appointee is not required to be a qualified voter of any particular territory other than the county served by the county election officer or the political subdivision in which the election is held; and

(2) if an employee of the contracting political subdivision is appointed, the appointee's status as an employee does not disqualify the appointee from serving in an election in which an officer of the political subdivision is a candidate.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.36; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 20, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.