BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1048

By: Guillen

Elections

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised over reported confusion among the public when political subdivisions designate early voting polling places in locations other than the county-designated early voting polling places and the impact of this confusion on voter turnout. C.S.H.B. 1048 seeks to address these concerns by prohibiting political subdivisions from designating an early voting polling place in a location other than a county-established early voting polling place unless certain conditions are met.

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

C.S.H.B. 1048 amends the Election Code to prohibit a political subdivision, other than a county, that holds an election on a uniform election date in which the political subdivision is not holding a joint election with a county and has not executed a contract with a county elections officer for the sharing of early voting polling places from designating as an early voting polling place a location other than an eligible county polling place unless each eligible county polling place located in the political subdivision is designated as an early voting polling place by the political subdivision. The bill requires a political subdivision, for an election held on the May uniform election date, to comply with these provisions by designating an eligible county polling place established by a county for the most recent election held on the November uniform election date to the extent possible. The bill defines "eligible county polling place" as an early voting polling place established by a county, other than a movable temporary branch polling place established with county clerk approval.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1048 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes a requirement for a political subdivision to designate an eligible county polling place for an election held on the May uniform election date as the polling place established by a county for the most recent election held on the November uniform election date to the extent possible.