BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1302

By: Deuell

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Ballots voted early by mail often are the subject of election fraud allegations and investigations, including claims that some individuals offering assistance to voters in preparing such a ballot are compensated based on the number of voters the individual assists. S.B. 1302 seeks to address this situation by making it a criminal offense to pay or receive certain forms of compensation for assisting voters in preparing a ballot to be voted early by mail or to establish a quota for such assistance.

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

S.B. 1302 amends the Election Code to make it a Class A misdemeanor offense to compensate another person based on the number of voters the person assisted in preparing a ballot to be voted early by mail, present another person with a quota of such voters to be so assisted, engage in another practice that causes another person's compensation from or employment status with the person to be dependent on the number of such voters assisted, or accept compensation for any of those activities. The bill makes an officer, director, or other agent of an entity that commits an offense under the bill's provisions punishable for the offense.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.