HBA-JEK H.B. 1419 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1419
By: Jones, Jesse
Elections
3/6/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The close outcomes of several recent elections suggest that a review of the
current election process to determine the accuracy of voting systems may be
appropriate in the near future.  House Bill 1419 requires the secretary of
state to conduct a study of the voting system of each county in Texas and
to examine the practicality of adopting a uniform voting system. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the secretary of state in SECTION 1 of
this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1419 requires the secretary of state to study the voting system
of each county to determine whether the voting system complies with
applicable standards prescribed by law.  The bill provides that this study
must include a statistical analysis of the number of undervotes and
overvotes attributed to the use of a particular voting system.  The bill
also requires the secretary of state to study the effectiveness of adopting
a uniform voting system to be used by counties statewide.   

H.B. 1419 requires the secretary of state to issue a report not later than
December 1, 2002 that summarizes conclusions and recommendations for
legislation.  The bill requires the secretary of state to promptly deliver
copies of the report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the
speaker of the house of representatives, and authorizes the secretary of
state to adopt rules necessary to implement these provisions. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.