| TO: | Honorable Mary Denny, Chair, House Committee on Elections |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1973 by Hartnett (Relating to the processing of certain election ballots voted early.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill would amend the Election Code to authorize, in an election conducted in a county with a population of 100,000 or more or conducted jointly with such a county, the delivery of early voting ballot jacket envelopes to occur between the end of the ninth day before election day or as soon as practicable after the polls close, at the time or times specified by the presiding judge of the election board. The bill would take effect September 1, 2005, and would apply only to an election ordered on or after that date.
Under current statute, early voting ballots must be delivered during the time the polls are open on election day or as soon as practicable at the time or times specified by the presiding judge of the election board.
There are 34 counties that have a population of 100,000 or more. The bill would provide flexibility in delivery of early voting ballots for counting in those 34 counties. Dallas County (population 2.2 million) and Fort Bend County (population 354,452) indicate implementing the bill would have no fiscal impact. The Texas Association of Election Administrators indicates a county could incur minimal costs for paying election personnel for more days for counting ballots on days prior to election day.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | JOB, SR, DLBa
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