LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session May 10, 2001 TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1856 by Danburg (Relating to the use of certain voting systems.), Committee Report 2nd House, as amended ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would require phasing out the use of punch card ballots or similar tabulating card systems, although such systems adopted prior to September 1, 2001 could still be used until the phasing is complete. The provisions of the bill also determine how tallying, tabulating, and reporting punch-card or centrally counted optical scan ballot undervotes and overvotes should be conducted. The Secretary of State would be required to prescribe any necessary rules and take any appropriate action to implement the proposed requirements and to facilitate the orderly phasing out of the general use of punch-card ballot voting systems. Local Government Impact There are 14 counties in Texas that use punch card ballot systems 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 machines per precinct would be needed, for a total of 7,850 machines at a cost of $3,500 per machine. Source Agencies: 307 Secretary of State LBB Staff: JK, RB, DB