SRC-HRD S.B. 292 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 292 By: Carona State Affairs 1-29-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law provides that early voting by personal appearance begins 20 days before election day and continues until the fourth day before election day. In Dallas County, less than 15 percent of the total early votes are cast during the first five days of early voting at an average cost of $25 per vote. This bill shortens the time period for early voting. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 292 provides that the beginning day for early voting by personal appearance is the 17th day before election day, and that early voting by personal appearance continues through the seventh day before election day. 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 Section 85.001 (a), Election Code, to provide that the period for early voting by personal appearance begins on the 17th day before election day, rather than the 20th day before election day, and continues through the seventh day, rather than the fourth day, before election day, except as otherwise provided by this section. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.