H.B. 2496 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 2496
By: Branch
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, primary elections are held on the second Tuesday of
March.  This date conflicts with the spring breaks of many Texas schools
and universities, preventing a number of voters from participating in the
primary elections.  House Bill 2496 attempts to increase voter turnout at
primary elections by modifying the date of the primary election. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly
granted to the secretary of state in SECTION 2 of this bill. 


ANALYSIS

House Bill 2496 amends the Election Code by changing the general primary
election date to the first, rather than the second, Tuesday in March in
each even-numbered year.  The bill changes the runoff primary election
date to the first, rather than the second, Tuesday in April following the
general primary election.  The bill changes the presidential primary
election date to the first, rather than the second, Tuesday in March in
each presidential election year. 

The bill requires the secretary of state, by rule, to modify applicable
procedures, dates, and deadlines in the Election Code to implement the
change in primary election dates. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.