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.