BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1034

By: Rodríguez

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties explain that recently enacted legislation allowed for certain applications for a ballot to be voted by mail to be used for all the elections during the calendar year. Additionally, the parties contend that providing in law for the cancellation of the application if a voter fails to mail the ballot in an election and votes a regular ballot is problematic. S.B. 1034 seeks to remedy this situation.

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. 1034 amends the Election Code to establish that the cancellation by personal appearance of an application for a ballot to be voted early by mail that is submitted to the county clerk indicating the ground of eligibility is age or disability and that does not specify the election for which the ballot is requested does not cancel the application with respect to a subsequent election in which the county clerk serves as early voting clerk, in which the applicant is eligible to vote, and that occurs before the earlier of the end of the calendar year in which the application was submitted or the date the county clerk receives notice from the voter registrar that the voter has submitted a change in voter registration information.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.