BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1112

By: Bettencourt

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding reports that election officials and early voting ballot boards accepting mail-in ballots during the 2020 election without confirming whether the voter or ballot met all applicable requirements. There have been calls to prohibit the suspension of ballot acceptance requirements in future elections and to ensure accountability. S.B. 1112 seeks to strengthen election integrity in Texas by prohibiting local election officials from suspending those requirements for accepting an early voting ballot voted by mail and by creating a criminal offense for the suspension of the signature requirement for acceptance of such a ballot.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes 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. 1112 amends the Election Code to prohibit a county clerk, elections administrator, early voting clerk, or member of an early voting ballot board from suspending a requirement for accepting an early voting ballot voted by mail.

S.B. 1112 creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for a county clerk, elections administrator, or early voting clerk who suspends the signature requirement for accepting an early voting ballot voted by mail. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.