H.B. 1173 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1173
By: Madden
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, polling places are required to be located in public
buildings when practicable. Federal military bases are not expressly
authorized to be polling place locations.  Most polling places are located
in or near a voter's neighborhood.  Those voters who live on military
bases, however, may be required to go off the military base in order to
cast a ballot.  Many individuals feel that these voters should be able to
cast a ballot at the military base or facility where they serve.  House
Bill 1173 would facilitate the casting of military voters' ballots by
authorizing the establishment of a polling place on  a federal military
base or facility.   


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 


ANALYSIS

House Bill 1173 amends the Election Code by authorizing a local election
administrator or county clerk to designate a federal military base or
facility as a polling place, with the permission of the post or base
commander, when a suitable public building is unavailable.  


EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary votes, September
1, 2003.