(a) The contestee must reply to the contestant's petition in an answer in the same manner as an answer to a petition in an election contest in the district court.
(b) The contestee must file the answer with the secretary of state not later than the seventh day after the date the contestee receives the copy of the petition. The contestee must deliver a copy of the answer to the contestant by the same deadline.
(c) Section 1.006 does not apply to this section.