H.B. 1696 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1696
By: Denny
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, in order to be accepted for service, a poll watcher
must be present at the polling place at the time it opens for voting on
election day.  Additionally, the law prohibits a poll watcher from leaving
the polling place during the time the polls are open on election day,
unless the presiding judge has given the poll watcher permission to leave
for a necessary activity.  This can create a hardship for poll watchers,
some of whom are not able to leave the poll to eat during the day without
risking being denied readmittance to the polling place.  House Bill 1696
removes these restrictions to enable poll watchers to serve at polling
places during the hours the watcher chooses. 


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 1696 amends the Election Code by deleting the provision
prohibiting a poll watcher from being accepted for service if the watcher
is not present at the time the polls are opened for voting.  The bill
authorizes a watcher to serve at the polling place during the hours the
watcher chooses.  The bill prohibits a watcher from leaving the polling
place before the counting of ballots is completed, if the watcher is
present at the polling place when the ballots are counted.  The bill
repeals certain provisions relating to poll watchers leaving the polls. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.