BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1681

By: Miller

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the process to confirm the registration of a voter who presents the required documentation when offering to vote but whose name is not on the applicable precinct's list of registered voters should be simplified. H.B. 1681 seeks to reduce confusion by allowing such a voter to vote provisionally and requiring the applicable election officer to then attempt to verify with the voter registrar directly that the voter is registered.

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. 1681 amends the Election Code to replace the requirement that a voter offering to vote who presents an acceptable form of photo identification but whose name is not on the precinct list of registered voters be accepted for voting under certain conditions with a limited authorization for such a voter to be accepted for provisional voting. The bill replaces the requirement that an election officer make certain notations relating to such a voter with a requirement that the election officer attempt to verify with the voter registrar that the voter is a registered voter.

H.B. 1681 repeals Section 63.009, Election Code, requiring the acceptance for provisional voting of a voter whose name is not on the list of registered voters for the precinct in which the voter is offering to vote and who does not present a voter registration certificate if the voter executes a specified affidavit.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.