SRC-TNM H.B. 324 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 324 By: Maxey (Barrientos) State Affairs 5-6-97 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, it is difficult for working individuals to take advantage of the early voting system. During the last cycle of spring municipal elections, certain municipalities conducted early voting as required by the Election Code, but only during the business hours of the city clerk's office, which are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. H.B. 324 would require early voting hours to be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for city elections conducted in a city in a county in which all the members of a governing body are elected on an at-large basis and with a population of 450,000 or more, and, if the city secretary is the early voting clerk under Section 83.005, Election Code, in order to make municipal elections more accessible to those who work during the day. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 324 outlines provisions regarding the days and hours during which early voting by personal appearance is conducted in certain municipalities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 85A, Election Code, by adding Section 85.008, as follows: Sec. 85.008. DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING: ELECTION IN CERTAIN CITIES. Provides that this section applies only to a city with a population of more than 450,000 in which all members of the governing body are elected on an at-large basis. Provides that notwithstanding and in addition to other applicable provisions of this code, in an election in which the city secretary is the early voting clerk under Section 83.005, early voting by personal appearance shall be conducted on the corresponding days and for the same number of hours that the voting is required to be conducted in the general election for state and county officers in the county in which a majority of the population of the city is located. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.