SRC-MAX S.B. 1748 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1748
By: Galloway
State Affairs
4-16-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, an election official is not required to ask a voter who does
not present a voter registration certificate to present proof of
identification.  As a result, voters are being allowed to vote without any
proof of identification.  This bill requires a voter who does not present
a voter registration certificate and whose identity is unknown to an
election officer to present proof of identification when offering to vote. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1748 requires certain voters to present proof of
identification when offering to vote. 

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 Chapter 63, Election Code, by adding Section 63.0101, as
follows: 

Sec.  63.0101.  REQUEST FOR IDENTIFICATION.  Requires the presiding judge
to request a voter who does not present a voter registration certificate
when offering to vote and whose identity is unknown to an election
official to present proof of identification through a personal
identification card or other document bearing the voter's photograph .
Requires an election officer to return the documentation to the voter.
Prohibits a voter who fails to present proof of identification  and whose
name is not on the list of registered voters for that precinct from being
accepted for voting.   

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.