hotel • topics & speakers • refund policy • register
The Texas Municipal Clerks Certification Program presents its
48th Annual Election Law Seminar • Jan. 30-31, 2020 • Frisco, Texas
Anyone may register!
TMCCP enrollees may earn Course 4 or recertification seminar attendance credit.
Early Registration Deadline: Jan. 15, 2020
"No matter how many years one has been conducting elections, there is always something new to learn,
whether it is changes in the election laws or a way to do something differently."
—TMCCP Election Seminar attendee feedback
TMCCP Election Law Seminar
Topics & Speakers: View Full Schedule of Events
Among our expert speakers are city secretaries from cities of all sizes—just like our attendees!
Optional Pre-Seminar Session - January 29
"Step by Step: Conduct of an Election for Cities Who Hold Their Own Elections"
10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Separate $150 registration fee per attendee (includes box lunch and the 500+ page "Step by Step" session handout)
TMCCP educational credit is not offered for this pre-seminar session
This session's closing Q&A portion is open to any Election Law Seminar attendee free of charge: 3:15-4:30 p.m.
Election Law Seminar - January 30-31
Session Choices:
Ballots
Bond Elections
Campaign Funding, Ethics, TEC Reports, Forms, & Regulations
Candidate Orientation
Candidate Packets: Applications, Filings, & Petitions
Charter Amendment Elections, Poll Watchers & Inspectors
Early Voting for Early Voting Clerks
Ethics & Election Integrity
ISD Elections: What You Need to Know
Joint Elections
Ordering an Election, Posting & Publishing Notices, Canceling Elections
Provisional Voting
Recall Elections for Home Rule Cities, Referendum & Initiative
Recruiting & Training Election Workers
Residency of Candidates
Runoffs, Vacancies, Recounts
Vote Centers
What Happens Before & After an Election?
View full schedule of events with speakers and topics.
The Election Law Seminar is comprised of several breakout session choices. Please plan your preferred schedule of attendance in advance, with a back-up plan in case your preferred session is filled on the day of the event. To best accommodate our attendees, please note that there will be no seat-saving in the sessions, and sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some sessions are offered more than once.
Accommodations
Seminar Hotel
Embassy Suites Hotel, Convention Center & Spa
972-712-7200; 7600 John Q Hammons Dr., Frisco, Texas 75034
When calling, ask for rooms in the Texas Municipal Clerks room block. Room rate: $164. Note: The hotel block cut-off date is Jan. 6, 2020.
Breakfast is complimentary for Embassy Suites guests in the Texas Municipal Clerks room block.
Attendees of the TMCCP Election Law Seminar are offered a special rate of $5 parking per day (12 hours) at the Embassy Suites, or a special $10 overnight parking rate for its guests. Our special valet rate is $16.
10/07/2019 UPDATE: The Embassy Suites has filled its room block; they have given us as many rooms in the block as they can. If you would like to be added to the wait list please contact us (municlerks@unt.edu or 940-565-3488); in the meantime, please book your room at the overflow hotel or other hotel to secure a hotel room.
Overflow Hotels
Hilton Garden Inn Frisco
469-362-8485; 7550 Gaylord Pkwy., Frisco, Texas 75034
When calling, ask for rooms in the Texas Municipal Clerks room block. Room rate: $164 king/2 queens. Note: The hotel block cut-off date is Jan. 7, 2020.
Continental breakfasts are complimentary for guests staying in the Texas Municipal Clerks room block (up to two registered guests per room per night). Onsite parking is complimentary.
11/07/2019 UPDATE: The Hilton Garden Inn has filled its room block; they have given us as many rooms in the block as they can. An additional overflow hotel is listed below.
Hyatt House Frisco (link to reserving room(s) in our Hyatt House group rate)
972-668-4500; 2875 Parkwood Blvd., Frisco, Texas 75034
Texas Municipal Clerks room rate: $164 king. Note: The hotel block cut-off date is Jan. 7, 2020.
The Hyatt House offers its guests complimentary breakfast. Parking is $7 overnight.
Schedule of Events
View the full schedule of events.
The TMCCP Election Law Seminar begins Thursday, Jan. 30 at 8:00 a.m., and concludes Friday, Jan. 31, at 11:15 a.m. (Thursday hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:15 p.m.; Friday hours: 8:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m.)
An optional pre-seminar session is available Wednesday, Jan. 29 (separate registration fee): "Step by Step: Conduct of an Election for Cities who Hold Their Own Elections." The session runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (includes a box lunch) with a Q&A over this session from 3:15-4:30 p.m.
Our Thursday luncheon features a graduation ceremony honoring all those who have earned or recertified their Texas Registered Municipal Clerk Certification through TMCCP in 2019; our keynote speaker will be City of Austin Assistant Attorney Caroline Webster, new author of TMCA's invaluable Texas Municipal Election Law Manual. If you are not attending the seminar but would like to purchase a ticket for the luncheon, or if you would like to bring a guest to the luncheon, visit our online store for a guest ticket ($54/each) or purchase your ticket(s) with a check via mail using our order form. Guest tickets must be purchased in advance and are not available at the door.
Additional Resources
Handbook
2020 STEP BY STEP: CONDUCT OF AN ELECTION - $55
Handbook from the Pre-Seminar Session "Step By Step: Conduct of an Election for Cities Who Hold Their Own Elections"
By Amanda Campos, TRMC; Sherry Mashburn, TRMC; and Gretchen Mercer, TRMC
Copies are limited; orders are on a first-come, first-served basis.
This highly popular handbook is currently in-production, but we are accepting advance orders. Last year's Step By Step handbook was over 500 pages, and we anticipate the 2020 version will be a similar length. This invaluable guide is packed with basic information, SOS election forms, and samples of election documents (in both English and Spanish) from city secretaries. This handbook is revised each year. This edition includes new forms, new exhibits, any new legislation, and has been formatted for the May 2020 municipal general election.
How To Purchase the Step By Step handbook:
- Your copy of the Step by Step handbook is ALREADY RESERVED if you purchased registration for the "Step by Step" Pre-Seminar Session; the handbook is included in your registration fee for that session.
- Not registering for the "Step by Step" Pre-Seminar Session? Anyone else attending the Election Law Seminar can place an order for the Step by Step handbook via the mail-in seminar registration form or in our online store. Your handbook(s) will be waiting for you to pick up at the seminar registration table.
- Not attending the seminar? Those not attending the seminar can place an order for the Step By Step handbook via our order form or choosing the "mailed February" option for the Step By Step handbook in our store. Your handbook(s) will be mailed to you after the seminar, in Feb. 2020.
TMCCP Texas Municipal Election Law Manual
Learn more about this invaluable reference publication.
May 2020 TMCA Election Calendar
By Attorney Caroline Webster: now available
Planning Your Attendance
Registration Confirmation, Seminar Handouts
You will receive email confirmation of your seminar registration. IMPORTANT: If you do not receive our registration confirmation, we may not have received your registration; please get in touch. If you purchased registration via our online store you will immediately receive an email confirmation from our store (whitelist @z2systems.com so that this email is not rejected as spam). Contact us if you do not receive your email confirmation within 24 hours. If you purchased your registration via mail, we will email you registration confirmation when we receive your mail (whitelist @unt.edu so that this email is not rejected as spam). Contact us if you do not receive your email confirmation within two weeks.
Registrants will receive an email with seminar handouts by January 24, the week before the seminar. Attendees need these handouts to get the most out of the seminar. If an attendee does not receive the handouts email by January 24, contact us.
Luncheon & Coffee Services
Breakfasts are not included in the seminar registration fee. Be sure to eat breakfast before arrival. (The Embassy Suites and the Hilton Garden Inn offers its staying guests breakfast included in their room registration. If staying at another nearby hotel, check your hotel's amenities.) The only meal or refreshment included at this seminar is the luncheon on Thursday and coffee services throughout. (The connected Embassy Suites Hotel has an onsite Caffeina's Café, but this is a long walk from the Convention Center and would not be easy to access between breaks.)
Plan Your Preferred Sessions in Advance
The Election Law Seminar is comprised of several breakout session choices. Please plan your preferred schedule of attendance in advance, with a back-up plan in case your preferred session is filled on the day of the event. To best accommodate our attendees, please note that there will be no seat-saving in the sessions, and sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some sessions are offered more than once. View the full schedule of events.
For Your Comfort
The Frisco Conference Center is a very large venue and we're using almost a dozen meeting rooms—don't forget to pack your walking shoes! Also note that although we and the venue do our best to monitor climate control—we hear your feedback—be sure to bring your jacket or cardigan for your comfort in case.
Accommodation of Disabilities, Dietary Needs
The Texas Municipal Clerks Certification Program will make every reasonable effort to make its seminars accessible to persons with disabilities.
Requests
Physical accommodations: Persons with disabilities requiring special facilities or equipment, please let us know at least 10 days in advance of the seminar date by calling or emailing Miriam Sheehan: 940-565-3488, miriam.sheehan@unt.edu.
Dietary accommodations: If you require a vegan or vegetarian dining option, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the seminar before we finalize the event's menus with the hotel. Call or email Miriam Sheehan: 940-565-3488, miriam.sheehan@unt.edu.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the TMCCP office: 940-565-3488.
Refund Policy
If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to send a substitute. If you cannot send a substitute, a refund or transfer to a subsequent seminar—less a $25 processing fee—will be honored if written cancellation is received by Jan. 15, 2020. No refunds can be honored after that date. Please allow two to four weeks to process refunds.
Seminar Photo Release
Texas Municipal Clerks Association, Inc., will take photos of attendees throughout the seminar. These photos are for TMCA, Inc., use only and may appear on the TMCA, Inc., website, newsletter, brochures, social media, or other future TMCA promotional material. By virtue of your attendance, you agree to usage of your likeness in such media. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
Scholarships
Scholarships and travel stipends are available to assist eligible applicants!
Additional Information
TMCCP enrollees who have signed up for exam(s): examinations will be held at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29. Learn more about examinations.
The Texas Municipal Clerks Certification Program is recognized and endorsed by IIMC.
