MAD H.B. 1918 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS ELECTIONS H.B. 1918 By: Madden 4-29-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Low population or uninhabited precincts which result from improper or outdated redistricting clutter the political landscape, creating an added burden for election administration officials. More importantly, however, in a sparsely inhabited precinct, voters are vulnerable to having the secrecy of their ballot violated in wake of reporting of the election outcome. PURPOSE H.B. 1918 would establish a mechanism for fine-tuning the redistricting process to allow for elimination of low population or uninhabited precincts. Upon consideration by a county commissioners court in the aftermath of redistricting, suggestions for elimination of county election precincts if warranted would be forwarded to the Secretary of State, who would then file a report with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House to coincide with the next regular session of the Legislature. This report could then provide the basis for legislative action, in conformance with state and federal law, to correct any problems which exist. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1: Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 42, Election Code, by adding Section 42.010 to provide a vehicle for elimination of low population or uninhabited precincts in wake of a review by the county commissioners court which would form the basis of a report issued by the Secretary of State during the session subsequent to redistricting, its findings offering a potential springboard for legislative action. SECTION 2: Effective date. SECTION 3: Emergency clause.