LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 16, 2001 TO: Honorable Debra Danburg, Chair, House Committee on Elections FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1856 by Danburg (Relating to the use of punch-card election ballots.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** Local Government Impact The bill would require counties to phase out the use of punch-card ballots for elections by forbidding the acquisition of new or renewal of existing contracts for punch-card voting systems after September 1, 2001. Until the contract for the punch-card system expires, the provisions of the bill stipulate how the punch-card devices are used and checked. Among those provisions would be for each polling place using the punch-card system to have a punch-card ballot reader or illuminating device available to the voters to facilitate the detection of improperly voted ballots before depositing them into the ballot box. The bill would also require that punch-card undervotes and overvotes be tallied, tabulated, and reported by race and by election precinct as prescribed by the Secretary of State. Replacing punch-card voting equipment could cost at least $3,500 per new device if electronic voting equipment were purchased. Purchasing or leasing equipment for each precinct for checking the ballot prior to depositing it into the ballot box would be an additional expense that would vary based on the type of equipment used. Requiring election officials to sort, talley, and tabulate undervotes and overvotes would require paying overtime. According to the Harris County Administrator of Elections, the estimated cost for the projected amount of overtime for their election officials would add up to $25,000 to the cost of the election. There are 14 counties in Texas that use a punchcard ballot representing approximately 1,787 precincts with an average of four machines per precinct. Source Agencies: 307 Secretary of State LBB Staff: JK, TB, SK, DB