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.