BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                    C.S.H.B. 1031

                                                                                                                                         By: Chisum

                                                                                                                                             Elections

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Electronic voting stations are often un-affordable and are often not a necessary option for cities with a population under 5,000.  C.S.H.B. 1031 exempts cities with a population of 5,000 or less from being required to use electronic voting stations.

 

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

 

C.S.H.B. 1031 amends the Election Code by exempting cities with a population of less than 5,000 from federal requirements regarding the use of electronic voting stations as long as the elections being held do not have a federal office appearing on the ballot. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The difference between C.S.H.B. 1031 and H.B. 1031 is found in SECTION 1 of the bill.  The substitute lowers the population threshold for an exemption from using electronic voting machines from less than 25,000 to less than 5,000.