BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 895
By: Carona
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 895 gives counties additional time to count ballots cast during the period for early voting. The bill provides that, if a signature verification committee is comprised of more than 12 members, the early voting clerk can designate subcommittees comprised of at least six members. This will expedite the early vote counting process in large counties.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 87.022, Election Code, to make a conforming change.
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 87, Election Code, by adding Section 87.0222, as follows:
Sec. 87.0222. TIME OF DELIVERY: BALLOTS VOTED BY MAIL. (a) Authorizes the jacket envelopes containing the early voting ballots voted by mail, in an election conducted by an authority of a county with a population of 100,000 or more or conducted jointly with such a county, to be delivered to the early voting ballot board (board) between the end of the ninth day before election day, or as soon after closing as practicable, at the time or times specified by the presiding judge of the board, notwithstanding Section 87.024 (Time of Delivery; Voting Machine Election).
(b) Requires the early voting clerk to post notice of each delivery of materials under this section that is to be made before the time for opening the polls on election day. Requires the notice to be posted at the main early voting polling place continuously for at least 24 hours immediately preceding the delivery.
(c) Requires the early voting clerk, at least 24 hours before each delivery, to notify the county chair of each political party having a nominee on the ballot of the time the delivery is to be made.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 87.027, Election Code, by amending Subsection (i) and adding Subsection (1), as follows:
(i) Deletes existing text specifying a timeline for the delivery of sorted materials to the early voting ballot board. Makes a conforming change.
(1) Authorizes the early voting clerk to designate two or more subcommittees [of a signature verification committee] of not less than six members, if more than 12 members are appointed to serve on the signature verification committee. Provides that, if subcommittees have been designated, a determination under Subsection (i) is made by a majority of the subcommittee.
SECTION 4. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2005.