SRC-TNM S.B. 1087 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1087
By: Patterson
State Affairs
3-24-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, campaigns for elections mail early voting applications to a
prescribed list of voters who formerly voted by mail.  As a result, some
workers from these campaigns have used this list to communicate with
voters prior to their returning the application.  S.B. 1087 would
prescribe that only an "official" application from the early voting clerk
or a written request from the voter would be acceptable. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1087 outlines provisions regarding the use and
distribution of the form for an application for an early voting ballot. 

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 84.001(c), Education Code, to require, rather
than not require, an applicant to use an officially prescribed, rather
than an official, application form obtained from the early voting clerk on
request of the applicant. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 84.011, Election Code, by amending Subsection
(a) and adding Subsection (c), to set forth information required to be
included on the officially prescribed application form for an early voting
ballot.  Requires each application form for a ballot to be voted by mail
to be printed or marked with a number, code, or other notation, as
approved by the secretary of state, that identifies the form as having
been provided by the particular early voting clerk. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 84.012, Election Code, to make nonsubstantive
changes. 

SECTION 4. Repealer: Section 84.013, Election Code (Application Forms
Furnished by Secretary of State). 

SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 6. Emergency clause.