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Texas Bill Would Require Voting Machine Paper Trail

Would require the system to allow the voter to inspect and verify the paper record before the electronic vote is recorded.

Texas House Bill 384, authored by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, would require voting machines used in Texas to have a voter-verified paper record.

"A voting system that consists of direct recording electronic voting machines," says the text, "may not be used in an election unless the system produces a voter-verified permanent paper record suitable for a manual audit." In addition, the bill as written would require the system to allow the voter to inspect and verify the paper record before the electronic vote is recorded and provide an opportunity to alter the electronic vote after viewing the paper record.

The bill was pending in committee as of last Wednesday.
Wayne E. Hanson served as a writer and editor with e.Republic from 1989 to 2013, having worked for several business units including Government Technology magazine, the Center for Digital Government, Governing, and Digital Communities. Hanson was a juror from 1999 to 2004 with the Stockholm Challenge and Global Junior Challenge competitions in information technology and education.