HBA-CMT, JEK H.B. 563 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 563 By: Madden Elections 4/3/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Over the past several years, there has been decrease in the percentage of registered voters casting votes. Accessibility to polling places and cynicism about the election process are two possible reasons for the decrease. In high growth areas, polling locations can change repeatedly from one election to the next. House Bill 563 ensures that all voters have ready access to information about the locations of polling places. 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 563 amends the Election Code to require an authority responsible for giving notice of an election to, if possible, post notice at the entrance of a previous polling place if the location of the polling place has changed since the last election ordered by the same authority. The notice is to state both that the location of the polling place has changed as well as the location of the new polling place. The bill requires an election officer to provide detailed poll location information to voters to assist voters in determining the correct polling place location if the information is available at a polling place through a computer. The bill also requires the presiding judge of an election precinct to take the appropriate steps to provide for the security of any polling place that is left unattended after preparations for voting begin and before the polls open. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.