AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law does not permit an employee of a political subdivision that adopts or owns the electronic voting system for which a counting station is established to be appointed as the counting station manager unless the employee is a registered voter in that political subdivision. 

 

Interested parties assert that this outdated policy was established when most entities conducted their own separate elections and that most political subdivisions now contract with the county to conduct elections. Such parties further assert that, as voting systems become more technologically advanced, experienced personnel are needed to ensure that the election process runs smoothly.  H.B. 2006 seeks to provide for such experienced personnel by allowing an employee of a political subdivision that adopts or owns the voting system to be appointed as the central counting station manager, regardless of that employee's voter registration status.

 

H.B. 2006 amends current law relating to eligibility for appointment as a central counting station manager.

 

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 127.002(b), Election Code, as follows:

 

(b)  Requires a person, to be eligible for appointment, to:

 

(1)  Makes no change to this subdivision; and

 

(2)  be a registered voter of the political subdivision served by the authority establishing the counting station, except during the first year following the adoption of the voting system, or if the person is an employee of the political subdivision that adopts or owns the voting system.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.