BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2209
81R22181 CAS-D By: Pena et al. (Van de Putte)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
As an ongoing effort to increase public awareness of elections and the voting process, the secretary of state's elections division provides resources for students to help them become knowledgeable and responsible voters and to foster a lifetime commitment to voting in public elections. Current law requires high school principals or their designees to act as volunteer deputy registrars and to distribute at least twice each school year a voter registration application form to each student who is, or will be, at least 18 years of age during that year.
Although resources relating to elections and voting are available to schools and school districts throughout Texas, no uniform standards exist for implementing a voter education program that targets high school seniors who are or will be of voting age during the year.
This bill requires the secretary of state, in consultation with the commissioner of education, to develop a nonpartisan voter education program to be presented to high school seniors by county clerks, county elections administrators, or their designees.
H.B. 2209 amends current law relating to a voter educator program for high school seniors.
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. Authorizes this Act to be cited as the Educating Voters of Tomorrow (E-VOT) Act.
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, by adding Section 31.015, as follows:
Sec. 31.015. VOTER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. (a) Requires the secretary of state, in consultation with the commissioner of education, to develop a nonpartisan voter education program designed to be presented to high school seniors.
(b) Requires that the voter education program developed under Subsection (a) provide information concerning the importance of voting, the manner in which a person may register to vote in this state, the manner in which a person may vote using the voting systems most commonly used in this state, election dates, as provided under Chapter 41 (Election Dates and Hours for Voting), the hours the polls are open, voting before the date of an election, and how to learn the correct voting location, and provide an opportunity, during the period in which the program is being presented, for students to complete voter registration application forms.
(c) Authorizes the county clerk or county elections administrator, as applicable, for the county in which a public or private high school is located, or the clerk's or administrator's designee, once each year, at the request of an administrator of a public or private school, to present the program to high school seniors at the school. Requires that the program be presented at school during regular school hours.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.