BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 25 By: Simmons Elections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties contend that straight-party voting pulls a voter's attention away from down-ballot candidates for certain offices that most directly affect the voter and that this practice discourages a voter from researching all the candidates on the ballot. H.B. 25 seeks to address this issue by eliminating straight-party voting for candidates in Texas. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. 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. 25 amends the Election Code to eliminate straight-party voting. H.B. 25 repeals the following provisions of the Election Code: Section 1.005(20) Section 52.071 Section 64.004 Section 65.007 Section 122.001(b) Section 124.001 Section 124.003(d) Section 124.063(d) Section 232.050(d) EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2017.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 25
By: Simmons
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 25
By: Simmons
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties contend that straight-party voting pulls a voter's attention away from down-ballot candidates for certain offices that most directly affect the voter and that this practice discourages a voter from researching all the candidates on the ballot. H.B. 25 seeks to address this issue by eliminating straight-party voting for candidates in Texas.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
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. 25 amends the Election Code to eliminate straight-party voting. H.B. 25 repeals the following provisions of the Election Code: Section 1.005(20) Section 52.071 Section 64.004 Section 65.007 Section 122.001(b) Section 124.001 Section 124.003(d) Section 124.063(d) Section 232.050(d)
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2017.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties contend that straight-party voting pulls a voter's attention away from down-ballot candidates for certain offices that most directly affect the voter and that this practice discourages a voter from researching all the candidates on the ballot. H.B. 25 seeks to address this issue by eliminating straight-party voting for candidates in Texas.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
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. 25 amends the Election Code to eliminate straight-party voting.
H.B. 25 repeals the following provisions of the Election Code:
Section 1.005(20)
Section 52.071
Section 64.004
Section 65.007
Section 122.001(b)
Section 124.001
Section 124.003(d)
Section 124.063(d)
Section 232.050(d)
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2017.