HBA-CMT, JEK C.S.H.B. 563 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 563 By: Madden Elections 4/16/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Over the past several years, there has been a 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. C.S.H.B. 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 C.S.H.B. 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. C.S.H.B. 563 requires the county clerk to give notice of a change in the location of a polling place for a general or special election ordered by the governor or the county judge if the location changes after notice of the election is given. The bill requires the county clerk to give the notice not later than the earlier of 24 hours after the location is changed or 24 hours before the polls open on election day. The bill provides that the notice must be given by notifying each candidate whose name appears on the ballot or by posting the notice in a listing used specifically to inform the public of polling location changes on any Internet website that the county clerk maintains to provide information on elections. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 563 differs from the original bill by setting forth notice requirements that apply to a county clerk for a change in the location of a polling place for a general or special election ordered by the governor or county judge.