SRC-ARR S.B. 971 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 971 76R8761 SRC-DBy: Shapiro State Affairs 3/15/1999 As Filed DIGEST The Federal Voting Assistance Department, under the United States Department of Defense, chose Texas as one of the five states to participate in the electronic voting pilot project. The project will allow members of the armed forces, either stationed overseas or in another state, who are registered voters of Dallas County to cast votes electronically. The project allows only 50 military voters in Texas to cast an electronic ballot. S.B. 971 authorizes counties to participate in an electronic voting pilot project for military voters. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 971 authorizes counties to participate in an electronic voting pilot project for military voters. 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 105, Election Code, as added by Chapter 1349, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, by adding Section 105.003, as follows: Sec. 105.003. INTERNET VOTING PILOT PROJECT. Authorizes any county selected by the United States Department of Defense to participate in a federal voting assistance program pilot project to allow members of the armed forces of the United States to cast votes electronically. Provides that this section expires January 1, 2003. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.