SRC-PNG H.B. 2057 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2057
By: Yarbrough (Whitmire)
State Affairs
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

According to a survey conducted by the secretary of state, more than120,500
voters in 216 counties applied for ballots by mail during the last general
election cycle. Increasing numbers of people, particularly senior citizens,
are voting by mail, whether out of convenience or out of necessity. In an
attempt to guard against potential abuse of the increasingly popular
ballot-by-mail system, H.B. 2057 amends Chapter 84, Election Code
(Application for Ballot), to require the name, official title, and official
mailing address of an early voting clerk to be pre-printed or stamped on
each application to eliminate the possibility that another person,
business, political party, or campaign might receive the application.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2057  requires the name, official title, and official
mailing address of an early voting clerk to be pre-printed or stamped on
each application to eliminate the possibility that another person,
business, political party, or campaign might receive the application.  

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, Election Code, to prohibit an applicant
from using an application form furnished to the applicant unless the
application form is printed or stamped with the name and official title of
the early voting clerk as addressee and the clerk's official mailing
address.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.