BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1892

By: Schofield

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that indicating a voter's political party affiliation on an official carrier envelope used for a ballot to be voted by mail compromises the secret ballot of the voter and allows third parties to identify the party of the vote. H.B. 1892 seeks to address this issue by prohibiting any reference to a political party from being indicated on a carrier envelope used for a ballot by mail in any election other than a primary.

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. 1892 amends the Election Code to prohibit any reference to a political party on a carrier envelope for an early voting ballot unless the ballot is for a partisan primary election.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.