Governor signs voting record law

Monday, June 9, 2008
From staff and wire reports

Gov. Phil Bredesen

Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed into law a measure to require a paper record for voters' ballots in Tennessee.

It's not clear yet what financial effect the measure will have on Bedford County, said Bedford County Supervisor of Elections Summer Leverette.

The law requires any voting machine bought or leased after Jan. 1 to be able to create a paper trail that could be used in recounts and random audits. By the year 2010, all counties will have to have voting machines in place that create a paper trail.

Leverette said how much it would cost to buy a complete set of new voting machines for Bedford County depends on the bid price obtained by the state. She said the state would use its bargaining power to negotiate a low price under which local governments could purchase machines.

It's also not clear whether any federal funds will be available to help offset the cost, said Leverette.

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

The "Tennessee Voter Confidence Act" was sponsored by Sen. Joe Haynes of Goodlettsville and Rep. Gary Moore of Joelton. Both are Democrats.

On the web

Read the full text of SB1363 on the General Assembly's Web site at: http://legislature.state.tn.us

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on t-g.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

I LOVE this idea. Although, not a new one ;) I just wish it was state-wide by November!

-- Posted by nascarfanatic on Mon, Jun 9, 2008, at 10:44 PM

This is great. A paper trail is the only way that the state can guarantee the integrity of the election. Now when are they going to require photo ID?

-- Posted by Thom on Mon, Jun 9, 2008, at 5:08 PM

I WILL NEVER TRUST VOTING MACHINES WITHOUT MY USING A PAPER BALLOT TO RECORD MY VOTE.THANKS GOVERNOR FOR GETTING US VOTERS A GOOD RELIABLE WAY TO CAST OUR VOTES.THE FOLKS IN CHARGE OF THE ELECTIONS SHOULB BE ENCOURAGED BY THIS TESTABLE ACCURACY METHOD OF RECORDING VOTES,AND RECOUNTING THEM IF EVER NECESSARY.

-- Posted by grandpat on Mon, Jun 9, 2008, at 4:55 PM

Good! This should be a requirement for all states. It's way too easy to manipulate the votes on a computer voting machine.

-- Posted by Brett Favre on Mon, Jun 9, 2008, at 12:28 PM