BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 719 81R3147 DRH-D By: Flynn (Duncan) State Affairs 5/17/2009 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Many polling locations in Texas hold joint primary elections, allowing voters registered with either political party to vote at the same polling place. This procedure saves time and money for both the voters and the employees who run the elections; however, the signs that assist in guiding voters to the polling place often are decorated with only one political party's name or symbol. This can confuse voters arriving to vote in the primary of their party choice but who see only the other party's name or symbol on the posted signs. Parity is necessary in advertising the location of a polling place. H.B. 719 provides parity for signs used to indicate the location of a polling place for a joint primary election by requiring that the signs either contain both parties' symbols or names or neither parties' symbols or names. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 172, Election Code, by adding Section 172.127, as follows: Sec. 172.127. CONTENT OF SIGN USED TO IDENTIFY POLLING PLACE LOCATION. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a polling place used to hold an election for more than one political party. (b) Requires that a sign used to indicate the location of a polling place for a primary election or a primary runoff election either not contain the name of, or symbol representing, any political party that is holding an election at the polling place or contain each name of, or each symbol representing, a political party that is holding an election at the polling place. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 719
81R3147 DRH-D By: Flynn (Duncan)
State Affairs
5/17/2009
Engrossed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Many polling locations in Texas hold joint primary elections, allowing voters registered with either political party to vote at the same polling place. This procedure saves time and money for both the voters and the employees who run the elections; however, the signs that assist in guiding voters to the polling place often are decorated with only one political party's name or symbol. This can confuse voters arriving to vote in the primary of their party choice but who see only the other party's name or symbol on the posted signs. Parity is necessary in advertising the location of a polling place.
H.B. 719 provides parity for signs used to indicate the location of a polling place for a joint primary election by requiring that the signs either contain both parties' symbols or names or neither parties' symbols or names.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 172, Election Code, by adding Section 172.127, as follows:
Sec. 172.127. CONTENT OF SIGN USED TO IDENTIFY POLLING PLACE LOCATION. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a polling place used to hold an election for more than one political party.
(b) Requires that a sign used to indicate the location of a polling place for a primary election or a primary runoff election either not contain the name of, or symbol representing, any political party that is holding an election at the polling place or contain each name of, or each symbol representing, a political party that is holding an election at the polling place.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.