HBA-JEK C.S.H.B. 1419 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1419
By: Jones, Jesse
Elections
3/26/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The close outcomes of several recent elections suggest that a review of the
current election process to determine the accuracy of voting systems may be
appropriate in the near future.  C.S.H.B. 1419 requires the secretary of
state to reexamine the voting system of each county in Texas and to study
the effectiveness of adopting a uniform voting system statewide, and study
innovative voting technologies and approaches to voting. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the secretary of state in SECTION 1 of
this bill. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1419 requires the secretary of state to reexamine the voting
system of each county to determine whether the voting system complies with
applicable standards prescribed by law.  The bill requires the secretary of
state to study the effectiveness of adopting a uniform voting system and to
study and evaluate the potential for implementing innovative voting
technologies and approaches to voting in this state. 

C.S.H.B. 1419 requires the secretary of state to issue a report not later
than December 1, 2002, that summarizes conclusions and recommendations for
legislation.  The bill requires the secretary of state to promptly deliver
copies of the report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the
speaker of the house of representatives, and authorizes the secretary of
state to adopt rules necessary to implement these provisions. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1419 removes the provision in the original which provided that the
study by the secretary of state must include a statistical analysis of the
number of undervotes and overvotes attributed to the use of a particular
system.  The substitute requires the secretary of state to reexamine,
rather than study, the voting system of each county, and to study
innovative voting technologies and approaches to voting.