C.S.H.B. 3128 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 3128 By: Truitt Elections Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In the past several legislative sessions, the law has been changed to prevent write-in votes in most elections from being counted for any candidates not listed as being declared write-in candidates. Current elections with this restriction include the November general election, city elections, school district elections, water district elections, and hospital district elections. Prohibiting the counting of write-in candidates other than those on the list of declared write-in candidates promotes efficiency in election administration, allows the simplification of ballots, and cuts costs of elections. CSHB 3128 adds candidates for the party offices of county and precinct chair to those offices where the counting of write-in votes is restricted. 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 CSHB 3128 modifies the Election Code by repealing the exception to the provision prohibiting a write-in vote for certain offices from being counted unless the name written in appears on the list of write-in candidates. The bill prohibits write-in votes for the office of county chair, in addition to those for precinct chair, from being counted unless the name written in appears on the list of write-in candidates. The bill modifies provisions relating to the qualifications of write-in candidates for county chair or precinct chair. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute modifies the original by conforming the bill to Texas Legislative Council drafting style.