H.B.A.-CMT H.B. 1252 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1252
By: Hochberg
Elections
4/3/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, if a change in a polling place occurs, there is no
requirement to notify the public or the candidates in the election of the
location change.  House Bill 1252 requires that voters and candidates be
made aware of any change in voting locations in a county of 2.5 million or
more. 

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 1252 amends the Election Code to require the county clerk of a
county with a population of 2.5 million or more, if the location of a
polling place changes after original notice of a general or special
election ordered by the governor or county judge is given, to give notice
of the change no later than 24 hours after the location is changed or 24
hours before the polls open on election day, whichever is earliest.  Notice
must be given by notifying each candidate whose name appears on the ballot
in the election or by posting the notice in a listing used specifically to
inform the public of changes to the location of a polling place on any
Internet website that the county clerk maintains to provide information on
elections held in the county.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.