LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
Revision 1
February 13, 2001
TO: Honorable Debra Danburg, Chair, House Committee on
Elections
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB672 by Wilson (Relating to lowering the minimum voting
age in elections.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB672, As Introduced: negative impact of $(503,825) through the *
* biennium ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $(503,825) *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
*****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from *
* General Revenue Fund *
* 0001 *
* 2002 $(503,825) *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
*****************************************************
Technology Impact
$2,000 for additional computer disc space, $36,825 for contract
programming costs at $75/hr. for an estimated 491 hours.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would lower the voting age to 14 years of older which would have
a impact of increased voter registration in the first year the bill
would take effect.
Methodology
According to the Secretary of State's office there would be a 10%
increase in voter activity which would increase the number of new
registered voters by approximately 1,160,570. Reimbursement to the
counties of $0.40 for each new registered voter in the next even year
would cost approximately $465,000. The Secretary of State's office also
estimates $2,000 for additional computer disc space and $36,825 for
contract programming costs.
Local Government Impact
Lowering the voting age to 14 would result in a significant increase in
the number of eligible voters and therefore increase the number of
registration applications processed and registration cards mailed out by
the county voter registrars. The increase in number of registered voters
would also require the establishment of additional precincts. Additional
precincts require more voting equipment, supplies, and workers, although
the equipment costs would be incurred only in the first year of
implementation. Voting machines cost approximately $3500 each, plus $50
per machine per year for maintenance. Each new precinct would have four
machines, for a total of $14,000 per new precinct the first year. The
Secretary of State's office estimates there would be the need to
establish an additional 220 precincts statewide. After equipment is
purchased and 14 to 17 year olds are registered during the first year of
implementation, the annual increase in cost, while still higher than
under current statute, would be less of an increase. Continuing
increased costs would be for registering 14 year olds each year and
annual maintenance on the voting equipment.
Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 696 Texas
Department of Criminal Justice
LBB Staff: JK, TB, SK, MF, DB