BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 383

By: Uresti

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties point out that the state's aging population is expected to increase in the coming decades and that, as a consequence, more Texans will be eligible to vote by mail. The parties argue that some large counties receive tens of thousands of mail ballots and that more time is needed in the processing of these ballots to avoid mistakes and protect the security of the election process. S.B. 383 seeks to provide for this time in certain larger counties.

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

S.B. 383 amends the Election Code to change the beginning date of the period during which the jacket envelopes containing the early voting ballots voted by mail in an election conducted by an authority of a county with a population of 100,000 or more or conducted jointly with such a county are authorized to be delivered to the early voting ballot board from the end of the ninth day before election day to the end of the ninth day before the last day of the period for early voting by personal appearance.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.