H.J.R. 59 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.J.R. 59
By: Uresti
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the names of uncontested candidates are required to
appear on general and special election ballots.  This can result in
unnecessarily lengthy ballots.  For example, the November 2002 general
election ballot for Bexar County contained 29 uncontested races, which
represented 58% of the races on the ballot.  Including these uncontested
races adds to the length and cost for the ballot, requires additional time
for counting the ballots, and complicates the preparation process for
conducting the election.  HJR 59 provides for an amendment to the
constitution allowing for the omission of unopposed candidates for local
office from the ballot. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department,
agency, or institution. 


ANALYSIS

HJR 59 amends the Texas Constitution by authorizing the legislature, for
an office of a political subdivision for which the constitution requires
an election, to provide by general law for a person to assume the office
without an election if the person is the only candidate to qualify in an
election to be held for that office. 


FOR ELECTION

November 4, 2003.