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House Bill 3619 |
House Author: Raymond et al. |
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Effective: Vetoed |
Senate Sponsor: Zaffirini |
House Bill 3619 amends the Election Code to extend by three years the deadline for the governing body of a political subdivision other than a county to exercise the option to change the date on which it holds its general election to another authorized uniform election date.
Reason Given for Veto: "In 1993, the legislature enacted a statute requiring local political subdivisions to set a fixed date for their elections and stick to it, so voters would know each cycle when elections will be held. House Bill No. 3619 attempts to extend for the fifth time the deadline for political subdivisions, other than counties, to change the date on which the subdivision holds its general election for officers.
"In 1993, the legislature established a deadline of December 31, 1993, for setting election dates. The date was then pushed back to December 31, 1997 (by the 75th session), December 31, 1999 (by the 76th session), December 31, 2004 (by the 78th session), and December 31, 2005 (by the 79th session).
"House Bill No. 3619 would move the deadline again, to December 31, 2008.
"While some of the deadline extensions were necessary in sessions in which the legislature cut back the number of uniform election dates, we have now reached the point where the cities and other local subdivisions need to stop moving their election dates. Voters need to know when a political subdivision holds its elections.
"If Texas is serious about increasing turnout, the state must stop changing the time and place of elections, and set them permanently so voters will know when they can vote."