Bill Caption

Relating to the canvassing of primary elections.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3118, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($104,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017. 

Bill Analysis

This legislation would modernize the election canvassing process by removing the requirement for the local canvass to be conducted at the county seat and instead requires that the hour specified by the county chair for convening be posted on the county party website. If the political party does not maintain a website, the official primary election results would be posted to the secretary of state's website. This bill also requires the county chair certify nominees for county and precinct offices before being placed on the general election ballot by posting on the secretary of state's website a notation next to the name and address of each nominee. 

Also, the legislation repeals Sections 172.116(c), (d), and (e), Section 172.117(b),  Section 172.119(b), Sections 172.120(c), (d), and (e)

Vote Recommendation Notes

This legislation adjusts the protocol for executing Election canvassing, and eliminates several older, outdated processes for submitting and verifying ballot processes that can be streamlined and better implemented in the 21st century with technology. Due to this being a more procedural piece of legislation and does not weigh for or against our principles we are neutral.