DEPOSIT REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN ELECTIONS

(a) If a county is not required to pay the initial expense, regardless of any authority to receive reimbursement, of a local option election under Section 501.107, the county clerk shall require the applicants for a petition for a local option election to make a deposit before the issuance of the petition. (b) The deposit must be in the form of a cashier's check in an amount equal to 25 cents per voter listed on the current list of registered voters residing in the county, justice precinct, or municipality where the election is to be held. (c) The money received shall be deposited in the county's general fund. A refund may not be made to the applicants regardless of whether the petition is returned to the county clerk or the election is ordered. (d) The county clerk may not issue a petition to the applicants unless a deposit required by this chapter is made. (e) A person who violates Subsection (d) commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by: (1) a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $500; (2) confinement in the county jail for not more than 30 days; or (3) both the fine and confinement.