SRC-MAX S.B. 1089 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1089
By: Patterson
State Affairs
3-19-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, voting-by-mail applications are not signed by more than one
party unless the voter is disabled and has a witness.  This bill requires
a witness to the signatures by someone other than the voter.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1089 requires a statement verifying the applicant's
identity signed by the applicant's spouse or by another appropriate person
on an application for an early voting mail 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 84.002(a), Election Code, to require an early
voting ballot application to include a statement verifying the applicant's
identity signed by the applicant's spouse or by another appropriate
person, among other information, for an application for a ballot to be
voted by mail.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.