BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2475

By: Miller, Rick

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A voter who has a physical disability that renders the person unable to write or unable to read the language on the ballot, for example, can currently receive assistance in marking the ballot.  Concerned parties assert that various complaints have been made about voter assistance and whether these voters are being swayed by the people who assist them in their efforts to vote.  H.B. 2475 seeks to address this concern by changing the content of the oath taken by such an assistant.

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

H.B. 2475 amends the Election Code to include in the oath a person selected to assist a voter is required to take prior to providing such assistance a statement affirming that the person is not the voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or an officer or agent of a labor union to which the voter belongs.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.