MAD C.S.S.B. 500 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS ELECTIONS C.S.S.B. 500 By: Zaffirini (Danburg) 5-6-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Currently, there is not an adequate voter registration update system. A voter registration application is not required to include an applicant's driver's license number or personal identification number issued by the Department of Public Safety. Subsequently, some voters are registered in more than one county precinct. It is often impossible to identify duplicate voter registrations because there is no unique number with which to identify voters who are registered in more than one county or in the same county. S.B. 500 would require most voter registration applications to include the applicant's driver's license number or personal identification card number, which are unique numbers, therefore enabling the state and counties to identify duplicate registrations. To increase public confidence in the electoral process, the rolls must be maintained properly by ensuring that initial registrations properly register an applicant to vote; the process of canceling duplicate registrations should be simplified by using readily available information, and; incentive should be given to the voter registrar to update voter registrations. Additionally, first-contact registration points should completely register all eligible applicants at the first opportunity, and through cross-checking of all possible data (driver's license number, personal identification card number, or social security number), the Secretary of State should be able to cancel multiple registrations. PURPOSE To increase and improve public confidence and participation in the electoral process by enhancing voter registration procedures. 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 Sections 13.002(a), Election Code, to stipulate that a voter registration application be submitted either in person or by mail. SECTION 2: Amends Section 13.004, Election Code, by adding (b) to keep confidential a person's Social Security number if it is divulged on the application form by the person seeking to become a registered voter. SECTION 3: Amends Section 13.122(a), Election Code, by adding (8) which provides a space or box for an applicant or voter to indicate whether new registration information is being entered, also adds (9) which provides instructions about entering changed information. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 4: Amends Section 13.143(e), Election Code, to clarify that a voter registration application form will be accepted as timely if received on or before the next business day after a deadline which falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday. SECTION 5: Amends Section 15.021(b), Election Code, to permit the voter to use a registration application form as the notice of change in registration information in addition to the registration certificate. SECTION 6: Amends Section 16.031(a), Election Code, by adding a new subsection (6) which directs a voter registrar to cancel a voter's registration immediately upon receipt of notice from the secretary of state's office that shows the voter has registered to vote in another county as determined by checking of data which includes social security number, driver's license number, or personal identification card number issued by the Department of Public Safety. SECTION 7: Amends Section 19.001(a), Election Code, to require the registrar to report to the comptroller the total number of voter registrations for which information was updated for the previous voting year. SECTION 8: Amends Section 19.002 (a), Election Code, in Subsection (1) and by adding Subsection (3) to make arrangements for reimbursement (25 cents for each initial registration, changed from 40 cents, and adding 40 cents for each updated registration) to voter registrars for administrative and record keeping costs associated with updating their voter registration rolls. SECTION 9: Amends Section 20.063, Election Code, by adding Subsection (d) requiring Department of Public Safety personnel to include a correct driver's license or personal identification card number, in addition to correct residence and mailing address, on an applicant's completed voter registration form if the information was not supplied by the applicant. SECTION 10: Effective date of September 1, 1997. SECTION 11: Emergency clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE SECTIONS 1 - 5 of the substitute were not in the original measure. SECTION 6 of the substitute, amending Section 16.031(a) of the Election Code, was SECTION 1 of the original measure. Changes include adding a person's personal identification card number issued by the Department of Public Safety to the list of items the secretary of state can cross reference when determining whether or not a person is registered in more than one county. SECTIONS 7 and 8 of the substitute were not in the original measure. SECTION 9 of the substitute, amending Section 20.063 of the Election Code, was SECTION 2 of the original measure. There are no significant substantive changes. SECTION 10 of the substitute was SECTION 3 of the original measure. SECTION 11 of the substitute was SECTION 4 of the original measure.