BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2050

By: Rodriguez, Eddie

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties are concerned that some voter records are submitted to the secretary of state that do not accurately demonstrate whether a person voted on election day, voted early by personal appearance, voted early by mail, or voted early by mail as a federal postcard applicant. The parties further assert that oftentimes all the voters for a particular election are designated as election day voters even though the turnout numbers provided show that there were voters who voted early by personal appearance or by mail. H.B. 2050 seeks to ensure that voter records accurately reflect the manner by which voters participate in elections.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 2050 amends the Election Code to require the record of each voter participating in a primary, runoff primary, or general election or any special election ordered by the governor that a voter registrar submits to the secretary of state to include a notation of whether the voter voted on election day, voted early by personal appearance, voted early by mail, or voted early by mail as a federal postcard applicant.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.