BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1595 85R9112 GRM-F By: Bohac (Bettencourt) State Affairs 5/17/2017 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Under current law, a ballot by mail must be mailed to a voter not later than 38 days before election day. Interested parties contend that this 38-day time period allows for too much time where voters can lose their ballot or forget that they received a mail ballot and end up voting in person. This is confusing to the voter and can create a situation where the voter violates the law by voting twice. H.B. 1595 seeks to reduce the amount of time that is required to send out a mail ballot to the voter prior to an election to reduce voter confusion. H.B. 1595 amends current law relating to the dates to provide a ballot by mail to a voter. 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 Section 86.004(a), Election Code, to decrease from not later than the 38th day before election day to not later than the 30th day before election day that balloting materials are required to be mailed. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1595
85R9112 GRM-F By: Bohac (Bettencourt)
State Affairs
5/17/2017
Engrossed
Senate Research Center
H.B. 1595
85R9112 GRM-F
By: Bohac (Bettencourt)
State Affairs
5/17/2017
Engrossed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, a ballot by mail must be mailed to a voter not later than 38 days before election day. Interested parties contend that this 38-day time period allows for too much time where voters can lose their ballot or forget that they received a mail ballot and end up voting in person. This is confusing to the voter and can create a situation where the voter violates the law by voting twice. H.B. 1595 seeks to reduce the amount of time that is required to send out a mail ballot to the voter prior to an election to reduce voter confusion.
H.B. 1595 amends current law relating to the dates to provide a ballot by mail to a voter.
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 Section 86.004(a), Election Code, to decrease from not later than the 38th day before election day to not later than the 30th day before election day that balloting materials are required to be mailed.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.