TLRC position
Support
2023 · Elections
Secured hand-marked paper ballots to be made available.
HB 0635 / SB 0595
Bill description
Election Laws - As introduced, requires election commissions to purge registration records at least 50 days, instead of at least 90 days, before an election; requires the coordinator of elections to take certain actions regarding paper ballots; authorizes, beginning with the 2024 election cycle, county election commissions to use hand-marked paper ballots; authorizes certification of results to be based on a hand count.
Election Laws - As introduced, requires election commissions to purge registration records at least 50 days, instead of at least 90 days, before an election; requires the coordinator of elections to take certain actions regarding paper ballots; authorizes, beginning with the 2024 election cycle, county election commissions to use hand-marked paper ballots; authorizes certification of results to be based on a hand count.
Bill sponsors
TLRC statement
- Procure a currency-grade hand-marked paper ballot vendor that produces ballots containing a unique voter identifier or control number that allows for chain of custody accountability to be made available to county election commissions for use in all elections.
- Ensure that paper ballots are uniform in form, fit, and function without distinguishing characteristics.
- Inform county election commissioners that such a paper ballot is available for elections conducted in 2024 and thereafter.
- Establish a process for county election commissions to place each ballot in a secure box or bin for hand-marked paper ballots to be retained until a hand count is performed after the polls close.