BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1448
81R10484 JRJ-D By: Allen (Ellis)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Some eligible voters find a section of the voter registration application confusing or redundant. If an eligible voter does not have a driver's license number or a government ID number, they must check a box certifying they do not have either of these numbers and then disclose the last four digits of their Social Security number. However, some voters have not been checking the box, indicating they do have a driver's license number or government ID number, and then entering their Social Security number as if they do not have a driver's license number or a government ID number, thus invalidating their application.
This bill eliminates both of these checkboxes because they sometimes confuse or are overlooked by applicants, causing application errors. However, the bill also adds a checkbox that affirms an applicant has not been issued a driver's license number, government ID number, or a Social Security number.
H.B. 1448 relates to the requirements for voter registration.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 13.002(c), Election Code, as follows:
(c) Requires that a voter registration application include certain information, including the applicant's Texas driver's license number or the number of a personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety; if the applicant has not been issued a number described by Paragraph (A) (relating to the applicant's Texas driver's license number or the number of a personal identification card), the last four digits of the applicant's social security number; or a statement by the applicant that the applicant has not been issued a number described by Paragraph (A) or (B) (relating to the last four digits of the applicant's social security number). Deletes existing text requiring that a registration application include certain information, including the applicant's Texas driver's license number or the number of a personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety or a statement by the applicant that the applicant has not been issued a driver's license or personal identification card, or if the applicant has not been issued a number described by Paragraph (A), the last four digits of the applicant's social security number or a statement by the applicant that the applicant has not been issued a social security number.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.