C.S.H.B. 1697 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1697 By: Denny Elections Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE An increasing number of political subdivisions are using direct recording electronic (DRE) voting devices for their elections. Because these voting systems are relatively new, current law does not have provisions relating to the procedure for a candidate's presence during the printing of ballot images for recount purposes or for the amount of the recount deposit required for recounts in precincts using DRE machines. C.S.H.B. 1697 modifies provisions relating to recounts of election results in precincts where DRE voting machines were used. 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 C.S.H.B.1697 amends the Election Code to provide that the amount for the recount deposit, in precincts where printed images of ballots cast using direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines are to be recounted manually, will be determined in accordance with ten times the maximum hourly rate for election judges. The bill also provides, during any printing of images of ballots cast using DRE voting machines, that the full recount committee is not required to be present. The bill requires the recount committee chair to determine how many committee members must be present during the printing of the images. The bill provides that each candidate is entitled to be present and to have representatives present in the same number as prescribed for a recount during the printing of the images. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 1697 amends the original by providing that, during the printing of images of ballots cast using DRE machines for the purpose of a recount, the full recount committee is not required to be present. The substitute also adds the requirement that the recount committee chair determine how many committee members must be present during the printing of the images.