The measure sponsored by Rep. Gary Moore, a Joelton Democrat, was approved 88-6 on Tuesday. The companion bill, sponsored by Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Goodlettsville, is scheduled for a full Senate vote on Thursday.

The bill would require that the paper trail process be in place no later than 2010.

Besides verifying a voter's selections, the paper trail would also be used in recounts or random samplings testing the accuracy of electronic voting machines.

"I think, personally, it's overkill, because people will not keep up with that printout," said Leverette on Tuesday. She said printouts would tend to be dropped and discarded as voters left the polling place.

"Your secret ballot is gone" if the bill passes, Leverette said. "You wont have that secret ballot anymore."

Compliance would also be very expensive, according to Leverette. Bedford County's current electronic voting machines aren't capable of generating a paper receipt and so all would have to be replaced.

A report released earlier this year by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations shows only two of Tennessee's 95 counties keep a paper trail of voters' ballots and recommends all state counties adopt the practice.

Meanwhile, Leverette said plans are proceeding well for the August and November elections. Candidates will be able to pick up qualifying petitions beginning May 23 for the November city elections in Shelbyville, Wartrace and Normandy.

Three of Shelbyville's city council seats are up for election, as well as three alderman seats in Wartrace and two alderman seats in Normandy.