HBA-NRS H.B. 444 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 444
By: Madden
Elections
2/21/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law authorizes political subdivisions other than counties which
have made provisions for write-in candidacy declarations to cancel an
election and declare an unopposed candidate elected if no contested races
and no propositions appear on the ballot. Provisions for write-in candidacy
declarations, however, do not apply to special elections for city officers.
Thus, a city cannot cancel a special election to declare an unopposed
candidate elected. House Bill 444 prohibits a vote for a write-in candidate
in a special election for city officers from being counted unless the name
written in appears on the list of write-in candidates. 

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 444 amends the Election Code to prohibit a vote for a write-in
candidate in a special election for city officers from being counted unless
the name written in appears on the list of write-in candidates. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.