HBA-CMT, JEK H.B. 563 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 563
By: Madden
Elections
7/11/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Over the past several years, there has been a decrease in the percentage of
registered voters casting votes. Accessibility to polling places and
cynicism about the election process are two possible reasons for the
decrease. In high growth areas, polling locations can change repeatedly
from one election to the next. House Bill 563 ensures that all voters have
ready access to information about the locations of polling places.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 563 amends the Election Code to require an authority responsible
for giving notice of an election to, if possible, post notice at the
entrance of a previous polling place if the location of the polling place
has changed since the last election ordered by the same authority.  The
notice is to state both that the location of the polling place has changed
as well as the location of the new polling place.  The bill requires an
election officer to provide detailed poll location information to voters to
assist voters in determining the correct polling place location if the
information is available at a polling place through a computer. 

The bill also requires the presiding judge of an election precinct to take
the appropriate steps to provide for the security of any polling place that
is left unattended after preparations for voting begin and before the polls
open. 

H.B. 563 requires the county clerk to give notice of a change in the
location of a polling place for a general or special election ordered by
the governor or the county judge if the location changes after notice of
the election is given.  The bill requires the county clerk to give the
notice not later than the earlier of 24 hours after the location is changed
or 24 hours before the polls open on election day.  The bill provides that
the notice must be given by notifying each candidate whose name appears on
the ballot, notifying the county chair in the case of an office filled by
voters of more than one county, notifying the county judge for an
independent candidate, or by posting the notice in a listing used
specifically to inform the public of polling location changes on any
Internet website that the county clerk maintains to provide information on
elections. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.