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.