LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 11, 2005

TO:	Honorable Mary Denny, Chair, House Committee on Elections
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2759 by Taylor (Relating to providing a uniform limit on the population of a county election precinct.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would establish that a county election precinct may contain at least 100 but not more than 5,000 registered voters. The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Current statute provides a limit between 100 and 2,000 registered voters per precinct, with certain caps based on county population in certain circumstances.

Local Government Impact

The provisions of the bill would provide flexibility for a county in determining how many precincts to establish. According to a sampling of county election administrators, raising the limit on the number of registered voters per precinct would allow the county to establish fewer precincts, which would result in a savings in the cost of precinct officials and equipment required. No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

307 Secretary of State

LBB Staff:

JOB, DLBa