BILL NUMBER: S4542

SPONSOR: RHOADS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to publicly releasing
ballot images

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To require the Board of Elections to make the images of ballots avail-
able for public scrutiny

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the election law by adding a new section 7-131 to
authorize the Board of Elections to publicly release ballot images
following an election.

Section 2. Establishes effective date.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

The purpose of this bill will allow the public to view ballot images,
not the actual ballot, to ensure that votes are properly counted.
Ballot transparency is necessary to protect the sanctity of the vote.
Electronic scanners already take photographic images of the ballots as
each ballot is counted. However, these machines can make mistakes if
citizens do not fill out the ballot as directed. Most importantly, this
bill would not allow the original ballots to be shared or handled by the
public and it would conceal the identity of all voters. Candidates and
citizens can feel confident each vote is appropriately accounted for by
allowing the ballot images to be open for inspection. In close
elections, the few stray votes that are miscounted by the electronic
scanner may change the outcome of an election.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023: S6116 - Referred to Elections

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal to the state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.