H.B. 2064 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2064 By: Bohac Elections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, an applicant for early voting by mail is only allowed to use an application that has been pre-printed with the name and address of the early voting clerk. This requirement has proven to be too strict, harming more voters than it has helped. The secretary of state recommends that the law applying to early voting applications be made consistent with those applicable to the Federal Postcard Applications (FPCA). House Bill 2064 modifies the procedure for returning an application for an early voting ballot to conform with that used for the submission of FPCA. 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 2064 amends the Election Code by deletingg the provision that prohibits an applicant for early voting by mail from using an application form that is not printed or stamped with the name or office or official title of the early voting clerk as addressee and the clerk's official mailing address. The bill provides that an application must be submitted by mail to the early voting clerk for the election who serves the election precinct of the applicant's residence. The bill requires an application that is addressed to the wrong early voting clerk to be forwarded to the proper early voting clerk not later than the day after it is received by the wrong clerk. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.