Tennessee House Bill HB0956

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/23
• Refer: 2/2/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to elections.

Impact

The bill is expected to significantly alter the voting landscape in Tennessee by providing counties the flexibility to opt for hand-marked paper ballots. This shift aims to enhance voter confidence in election integrity, as hand-marked ballots can be more easily verified and audited. Furthermore, the requirement for uniformity among ballots and the establishment of processes for secure storage and counting may mitigate concerns regarding election fraud and inaccuracies often associated with machine voting.

Summary

House Bill 956 (HB0956) proposes amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated, particularly focusing on election processes involving the use of hand-marked paper ballots. Starting from the 2024 election cycle, the bill allows county election commissions the option to employ hand-marked paper ballots as the primary method for recording votes, instead of the traditional voting machines. Additionally, it encourages a hand count of these ballots for vote tabulation, promoting transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

Contention

Despite the potential benefits, HB0956 may face opposition from various stakeholders. Proponents of electronic voting systems might argue that hand-marked paper ballots could lead to inefficiencies and longer wait times for voters, particularly in larger jurisdictions. Additionally, the transition to this new system could require significant training and resources for election officials, which may lead to initial implementation challenges. Critics may view the bill as a politically motivated attempt to change voting methods in a way that could disproportionately impact certain voter demographics.