SRC-TAG H.B. 1597 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1597
78R2107 DRH-DBy: Madden (Staples)
State Affairs
5/20/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

According to current administrative rules, Texas must provide the
opportunity for military personnel serving abroad to vote in the general
federal election by using the federal write-in absentee ballot.  Recently,
the United States Department of Defense filed suit to prompt the states to
expand the applicability of the federal write-in absentee ballot process
beyond the general election to any election where races for a federal
office are involved.  H.B. 1597 amends provisions relating to the use of
federal write-in absentee ballots by military and overseas personnel. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 105, Election Code, by adding Section 105.003,
as follows: 

Sec.  105.003.  USE OF FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR ELECTIONS FOR
FEDERAL OFFICE.  Requires the secretary of state to prescribe procedures
to allow a voter who qualifies to vote by a federal write-in absentee
ballot to vote through use of a federal write-in absentee ballot in any
general, special, primary, or runoff election for federal office. 

SECTION 2.  Amends the chapter heading to Chapter 105, Election Code, to
read as follows: 

CHAPTER 105.  VOTING BY MILITARY PERSONNEL OR OTHER PERSONS 
OVERSEAS

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.