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Updated by tombouctou on Mar 2, 2007 6:09:08

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Summary

Rep. Anchia's Bill allows voters to register to vote and vote the same day as any statewide primary or general election. Currently, voters must register 30 days before an election in order to be eligble to vote.

Opposition

Many counties and county opposiitons have voiced concern about the introduced version of this bill, claiming that it would add an additional financial and staffing burden to them.

Substitute Offered

During the committee hearing on Feb. 28, Rep. Anchia offered a committee substitute which provided for a same day registration pilot program which would optional for counties to participate in. Instead of same-day registration on election day, the pilot provided for same-day registration during early vote. This would reduce the need for extra personnel and allow counties to take advantage of the real time network in place to prevent duplicative registrations.

Despite the changes, representatives from local and state Republican parties opposed the bill. The committee received testimony fom the election clerks of Tarrant and Travis counties who expressed interest in the pilot.

Version No. 4

Updated by tombouctou on Feb 28, 2007 5:10:16

This is an older version of this article.

Summary

Opposition

Many counties and county opposiitons have voiced concern about the introduced version of this bill, claiming that it would add an additional financial and staffing burden to them

Version No. 3

Updated by SoniaS on Feb 6, 2007 10:38:19

This is an older version of this article.

Summary

Version No. 2

Updated by tombouctou on Dec 3, 2006 8:57:43

This is an older version of this article.

Summary

Version No. 1

Updated by tombouctou on Dec 2, 2006 20:38:49

This is an older version of this article.

Summary

Latest Version

Updated by SoniaS on Feb 6, 2007 9:17:56

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Arguments for HB 265

Increases Voter Participation

Currently, voters must register to vote at least 30 days prior to an election in order to vote. This bill allows people to vote on election day if they are eligible.

Ends unnecessary disenfranchisement

Unfortunately, it is a fact of modern politics and the busy lives of average Americans, that we often dont get engaged in our local elections until Election Day looms. By that time, if we havent registered, we face disenfranchisement. Voter participation in our elections has been steadily declining and this is not a good sign of a healthy democracy. Giving voters more convenient opportunities to vote with same day registration is good for the citizens of Texas. Same day registration gives all eligible citizens who arrive at the polls the ability to cast their ballot and participate in our democracy.

Implementing EDR would be easy and be another safeguard against voter fraud

The Help America Vote Act required states to create a statewide voter registration system, and Texas has already developed this system. The Secretary of States office has a uniform, official, centralized, interactive, computerized statewide voter registration called Texas Election Administration Management (TEAM) system which would provide the infrastructure for the state to implement EDR.In-person registration will make it easy for election officials to maintain the integrity of the electoral process, especially when they can access the statewide database to verify voter eligibility, thereby reducing chances for voter fraud.

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Arguments against HB 265

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Version No. 1

Updated by SoniaS on Dec 31, 1969 16:00:00

This is an older version of this article.

Arguments for HB 265

Increases Voter Participation

Currently, voters must register to vote at least 30 days prior to an election in order to vote. This bill allows people to vote on election day if they are eligible.

Ends unnecessary disenfranchisement

Implementing EDR would be easy and be another safeguard against voter fraud

Arguments against HB 265

yes for same-day voter registration!

by mario on Dec 4, 2006 9:55:00

if the current technology is good enough to arrest a driver in amarillo for an overdue ticket in brownsville, we ought to be able to trust that technology to allow same-day registration AND county-wide voting.

Increase voter participation bill

by SoniaS on Dec 15, 2006 17:45:47

We need to offer voters better chances to participate in the election process. There is no reason that with our technology, voters should have to wait 30 days to exercise their rights. More people are apt to pay attention to when major elections occur than when the last day to register to vote is. Many states already offer this and Texas should catch up. Increase the voter participation by passing this bill.

This would be great, but....

by martib on Dec 19, 2006 18:07:33

I am all about same-day voter registration, however we shouldn't kid ourselves that our (Texas) election technology is all that and ready for a huge influx of same-day registrants. In the 2006 elections Texas still didn't have a way to verify that a voter didn't vote in two counties! This Bill better offer a lot of technological funding if we are ready to take on same-day voter drives...and I sincerely hope it will.

by MEGABITE on Jan 29, 2007 13:26:31

I picture vans picking up the homeless and shuttling them to the polls where they get a pack of cigarettes in exchange for their arranged, predetermined vote.

hey marti, you are right...

by mario on Jan 30, 2007 6:44:00

in that the 'election' technology aint all that. BUT simple, totally widespread and 'daily-life' technologies exist, such as ATMs, which could handle this. here is to hoping that the lege puts some value (and priority) on civic well-being, as it does on corporate well-being.

TEAM

by SoniaS on Feb 6, 2007 9:23:59

Texas does already have the technology to handle same day voter registration. It's called TEAM and it's been in place for a while now. In the most recent election you saw that the Secretary of State was able to tell voters where their polling location was by your voter certificate. It's there now and each county is required to update their voter rolls to the statewide database. Here's the link for TEAM at the TX SOS. [LINK http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/team/index.shtml TEAM LINK]