BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1303 By: Miller, Rick Elections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The integrity of elections is a concern of all citizens, and although poll watchers may represent particular candidates, political parties, or specific-purpose political action committees, they are interested in ensuring the conduct of a fair and honest election. Sometimes, however, it is difficult to identify a poll watcher who is observing an election. In an effort to better identify poll watchers, H.B. 1303 seeks to require a poll watcher to be provided with identification. 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. 1303 amends the Election Code to require the election officer, on accepting for service a person appointed to watch the conduct of an election on behalf of a candidate, a political party, or the proponents or opponents of a measure, to provide the watcher with a form of identification, prescribed by the secretary of state, to be displayed by the watcher during the watcher's hours of service at the polling place. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2013.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1303
By: Miller, Rick
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1303
By: Miller, Rick
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The integrity of elections is a concern of all citizens, and although poll watchers may represent particular candidates, political parties, or specific-purpose political action committees, they are interested in ensuring the conduct of a fair and honest election. Sometimes, however, it is difficult to identify a poll watcher who is observing an election. In an effort to better identify poll watchers, H.B. 1303 seeks to require a poll watcher to be provided with identification.
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. 1303 amends the Election Code to require the election officer, on accepting for service a person appointed to watch the conduct of an election on behalf of a candidate, a political party, or the proponents or opponents of a measure, to provide the watcher with a form of identification, prescribed by the secretary of state, to be displayed by the watcher during the watcher's hours of service at the polling place.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2013.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The integrity of elections is a concern of all citizens, and although poll watchers may represent particular candidates, political parties, or specific-purpose political action committees, they are interested in ensuring the conduct of a fair and honest election. Sometimes, however, it is difficult to identify a poll watcher who is observing an election. In an effort to better identify poll watchers, H.B. 1303 seeks to require a poll watcher to be provided with identification.
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. 1303 amends the Election Code to require the election officer, on accepting for service a person appointed to watch the conduct of an election on behalf of a candidate, a political party, or the proponents or opponents of a measure, to provide the watcher with a form of identification, prescribed by the secretary of state, to be displayed by the watcher during the watcher's hours of service at the polling place.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2013.