LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 15, 2001 TO: Honorable Debra Danburg, Chair, House Committee on Elections FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB424 by Tillery (Relating to prohibiting the use of punch-card election ballots.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** Local Government Impact The bill would require phasing out the use of punch card ballots or similar form of tabulating card systems. There are 14 counties in Texas that use a punch card ballot and three that use lever voting systems. The estimated cost for replacing the punch card systems and lever voting systems in all 17 counties with the most current technology that is certified as meeting all state guidelines is estimated to be $27,440,000. The number of precincts in need of new voting systems is 1,960. The Secretary of State estimates an average of four machine per precinct would be needed, for a total of 7,840 machine at a cost of $3,500 per machine. Source Agencies: 307 Secretary of State LBB Staff: JK, TB, RB, SK, DB