Video & Transcript Research : 'paper ballots'
Page 4 of 430
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee Jun 16th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Paper forms aren't just inconvenient for voters.
- That's exactly what exists on the paper form."
- As you heard from the author, it is mirroring the paper process.
- It's about the action of an elected sheriff seizing ballots.
- It's about the action of an elected sheriff seizing ballots.
Summary:
The committee heard several election and democracy-related bills. AB 1116 would expand California’s online voter registration system to allow eligible voters without a DMV-issued ID to register using the last four digits of their Social Security number and an uploaded signature image. Supporters said it would improve access, reduce paper processing, and save money; opponents, including the Secretary of State’s office and county officials, raised concerns about cybersecurity, implementation, and identity verification. The bill was moved on a 2-1 vote to the Committee on Appropriations.
AB 1539 would require political party representatives to certify, under penalty of perjury, that presidential and vice presidential nominees meet constitutional term-limit requirements. Supporters framed it as a safeguard against attempts to place ineligible candidates on the ballot, while opponents called it unnecessary and politically motivated. The committee voted 2-1 to send the bill to the Committee on Public Safety.
The committee also approved AB 1562, which would let counties randomly select registered voters to serve as poll workers if their board of supervisors approves, and AB 1664, which would require prompt notice to the Secretary of State and Attorney General when election records or voting systems are subject to warrants, subpoenas, or investigations. AB 1562 passed 2-0 to the Committee on Transportation, and AB 1664 passed 2-1 to the Committee on Public Safety despite opposition from sheriffs’ representatives who argued it raised separation-of-powers concerns. Later, AB 1853, which would restrict candidate statements in voter information guides to factual background and qualifications and bar hateful or misleading content, passed 2-1 to the Committee on Rules for further consideration in Judiciary. AB 1919, allowing voters in the Santa Cruz Metro district to decide on transit funding procedures, and AB 2484, allowing San Diego MTS voters to authorize a local transit tax through initiative, also advanced on 3-1 votes to the Committee on Transportation. The committee additionally approved a consent agenda containing AB 1789, AB 2592, AB 2655, and AB 2785.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on State Government (11-13-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- The DS200 is a polling place ballot scanner and vote tabulator where voters cast their paper ballots
- :32.240><c> after</c> voters cast their paper ballots after voters cast their paper ballots after marking
- ballots and hand away from paper ballots and hand counting.<01:07:36.000><c> What</c><01:07:36.160><c
- That is a hand-mark paper ballot.
- The ballot on handmark paper ballot.
Keywords:
Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15
Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14
Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities.
Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf.
Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/18/26 - Evening Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- ballot.
- </c> and didn't receive a ballot. and didn't receive a ballot.
- And said, you know, "Here's the ballot back."
- And said, you know, "Here's the ballot back."
- Um as in ballots."
Summary:
The committee first took up HF 2526 and received a walkthrough of the DE1 amendment from nonpartisan staff. The amendment revised the bill’s gift and ethics provisions by defining local government and public safety officer, narrowing covered mental health or wellness services to those provided by a qualified mental health professional and tied to recovery from a traumatic event, excluding luxury services or events as determined by the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, and allowing local governments to adopt additional gift restrictions. It also added a bribery-related provision for gifts made with intent to influence a public safety officer. Members noted the language had been worked on by Representatives Duran, Vernig, and Freiberg, and the DE1 was adopted unanimously. HF 2526, as amended, then passed to the floor on a voice vote.
The committee then turned to HF 3722, which would remove deceased voters from the state voter registration system. The bill author argued that deceased voters should not remain on the rolls and that removing them would clean up the voter list. Secretary of State staff testified in opposition, saying deceased voters are already kept in a separate deceased status, not on active rolls, and that retaining the record helps flag suspicious activity and preserves voter history in case of administrative error. A second testifier described a real case in which a deceased voter’s retained record helped election officials identify and investigate a fraudulent ballot. After discussion, the committee tabled HF 3722.
Finally, the committee heard HF 3723, which would require additional verification for absentee ballot applications and permanent absentee voters. Supporters said the bill would help ensure ballots are not sent to people who have died or moved out of state. Secretary of State staff opposed the bill, saying most voters are already verified at registration, that the proposed checks would duplicate existing procedures, and that additional verification could create delays or false rejections. A testifier also objected to the bill’s effective date, saying it would take effect only days after absentee voting begins. The sponsor argued that voters remain on the permanent list indefinitely and that periodic verification is needed because people move or die; the committee did not reach a final vote in the portion provided.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government (1-22-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> expanding ba expanding ballot expanding ba expanding ballot capabilities.<00:04:33.360><c> The</
- </c> eliminating the need for external paper eliminating the need for external paper products<00:04:44.800
- The proper ballot style for the voter.
- </c><00:13:26.880><c> Supplemental</c> provisional ballots. Supplemental provisional ballots.
- paper ballots would then today that the paper ballots would then go<00:16:32.000><c> back</c><00:16:
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:14
Approval of Minutes 00:00:40
State Board of Elections 00:00:56, 958, all
Summary:
The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met to hear an update from the State Board of Elections on its Bluegrass Books electronic poll book system. Rachel Pointer and Richard House described the project as an in-house modernization effort intended to improve security, customization, integration with the voter registration system, reduce voter wait times, streamline supplemental and provisional ballot processing, and provide year-round local support to county clerks and poll workers. They emphasized that the system is already a working product, not just a concept, and showed a workflow demonstration of voter lookup, signature capture, ballot issuance, manual lookup, and handling voters who have already voted.
The agency also outlined the financial rationale for the project, saying the state currently lacks dedicated funding for replacing the iPads used for election-day poll books and that counties now bear vendor maintenance and support costs. Under Bluegrass Books, the state would seek to cover hardware replacement, maintenance, and on-site support through future appropriations, potentially using bulk purchasing to lower costs. When asked about the size of the appropriation request, the presenters said it was not yet finalized but noted roughly 7,000 devices are deployed statewide and replacement would likely be phased rather than done all at once.
Members asked about security and whether the e-poll book could affect vote totals. The Board explained that the e-poll book is separate from ballot casting, that voting machines themselves are not connected to the internet, and that the poll book is networked only to update check-ins and prevent double voting. They said the device is locked down to the poll book application and can operate offline until connectivity returns. A member also asked how to recruit more poll workers; the response suggested higher pay is the main incentive, along with outreach to schools, community colleges, and possible pilot programs involving professionals. The meeting concluded without any votes or formal action beyond approval of minutes, and the next meeting was announced for January 29, weather permitting.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- You would not get a ballot because you already have a ballot.
- this bill if it was into place, take her ballot and scan a naked ballot in.
- If I'm using the ballot I have from home, I'm saving paper and I'm saving the process of having to check
- , the ballot that I got at home is no longer a valid ballot.
- mail-in ballots.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Elections Committee Apr 9th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- and put your ballot in.
- , if it was into place, take her ballot and scan a naked ballot in.
- If I’m using the ballot I have from home, I’m saving paper, and I’m saving the process of having to check
- And so once I vote in person and I get a ballot, the ballot that I got at home is no longer a valid ballot
- And so once I vote in person and I get a ballot, the ballot that I got at home is no longer a valid ballot
Summary:
The committee heard a long agenda of elections-related bills. It first approved three consent items: AB 808, AB 1029, and AB 1072. The committee then took up AB 1249, which would require non-Voter’s Choice Act counties to offer at least one Saturday early-voting location before statewide elections and allow in-person return of vote-by-mail ballots at designated county offices or satellite locations. Supporters said it would expand access for working voters and those with transportation barriers; some members raised concerns about ballot verification and added workload for rural counties. The bill passed the committee on a divided vote and was placed on call for absent members.
The committee next considered AB 25, a voter ID and election integrity measure that would require citizenship verification, government ID for voting, tighter voter-roll audits, and a 72-hour ballot-counting deadline. The author and supporters argued it would restore public trust and improve election integrity, while opponents from the League of Women Voters, ACLU California Action, labor groups, disability advocates, and others said it would restrict access, burden vulnerable voters, and amount to voter suppression. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out on a narrow split and kept it on call.
Members also approved AB 1164, which clarifies when voters are entitled to a replacement ballot and updates the Voter Bill of Rights language; AB 1441, which would create an independent citizens redistricting commission in Merced County despite opposition from the county board over cost and local control; and AB 16, which would clarify county election officials’ authority to begin processing vote-by-mail ballots earlier and clean up outdated code. The committee also heard AB 1411, which would require non-VCA counties to prepare voter education and outreach plans and use a Secretary of State template, with the sponsor saying it would improve voter information statewide.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (04/01/2025)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- I do not believe that any editor of a paper or owner of a paper would purposely not do it.
- I do not believe that any editor of a paper or owner of a paper would purposely not do it.
- I do not believe that any editor of a paper or owner of a paper would purposely not do it.
- I do not believe that any editor of a paper or owner of a paper would purposely not do it.
- I do not believe that any editor of a paper or owner of a paper would purposely not do it.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/5/25
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- It also includes information like the time the ballot was read, the date and time the ballot was read
- It also includes information like the time the ballot was read, the date and time the ballot was read
- </c><00:32:07.720><c> um</c> private data to keep your ballot um private data to keep your ballot um
- <00:40:11.839><c> and</c> ballot and ballot and therefore<00:40:14.040><c> um</c><00:40:14.960><c> we
- She said they spend a lot of time disconnecting ballot envelopes from ballots to protect ballot secrecy
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill authorizes individuals without appropriate identification to cast a conditional paper ballot
- If you're able to... ...on the paper ballot. That's my question.
- ballot, a provisional paper ballot.
- ballot, a provisional paper ballot.
- Presenting a paper ballot at the polling location for someone to vote. Okay.
Bills:
HR118, HR196, HR237, HR285, HCR85, HB442, HB443, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR63, SB25, SB202, SB319
Keywords:
water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, fallen trees, property damage, insurance, property values, hurricanes, storm damage, local government, homeowners, risk management, committee study, census, military population, Department of Defense, representation, federal funding
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So recently, Collin County has moved to paper ballots. Yes. Yes, this is true.
- Because if we're talking about secrecy of the ballot, right, and Collin County, we're voting on paper
- So in your estimation, do you think that counties that are voting on paper ballots might be exposing
- You cannot have just one ballot style for that, and that is why you have that on the piece of paper.
- And then you run all those paper ballots through, and then they go in boxes by precinct as opposed to
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions, May 22, 2026 - AM
Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions
Transcript Highlights:
- paper. and it prints out uh a ballot paper.
- Again, pen and paper ballots.
- </c> and paper ballots uh bill 26 LSO 40. and paper ballots uh bill 26 LSO 40.
- </c><00:18:56.640><c> ballot</c> That's the pen and paper ballot That's the pen and paper ballot requirement
- Pen and paper ballots.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- I know our local paper when we have things on both the municipal or the school ballot, people read the
- I know our local paper when we have things on both the municipal or the school ballot, people read the
- I know our local paper when we have things on both the municipal or the school ballot, people read the
- I know our local paper when we have things on both the municipal or the school ballot, people read the
- I know our local paper when we have things on both the municipal or the school ballot, people read the
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Ethics and Elections Feb 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- by mail ballot.
- Did you at this day this time, you know, drop your ballot off my secure ballot intake stations are and
- We use ballot tracks and that notifies you when your ballot gets back to us.
- But really ballot Trax is a great way for folks to know when their ballot gets to them.
- No ballots were in there.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (05/06/2025)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> ballot system to a official ballot ballot system to a official ballot system<00:35:39.599><c> that
- I get my town ballot and I get my school ballot.
- I was able to get in and out and vote in about 20 minutes using a paper ballot.
- </c> about 20 minutes and using a paper about 20 minutes and using a paper ballot.<01:06:50.400><c> If
- They found paperwork. the paper papers.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amend. and Intergovernmental Affairs (2-19-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- ballot.
- c> public</c> paper ballots, agreeing that public paper ballots, agreeing that public viewing<00:14:08.720
- </c> agreed upon in a location on a paper agreed upon in a location on a paper ballot.<00:14:43.199><
- >> We're already preparing ballots. Absentee ballots will go out.
- We're already preparing ballots. Absentee ballots will go out.
Summary:
The House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee met to consider House Bill 534, sponsored by Rep. DJ Johnson, with a committee substitute. Johnson said the bill was the product of interim work with the Secretary of State’s office, the State Board of Elections, county clerks, KREF, and other stakeholders, and that the committee substitute folded in several election-administration changes. He highlighted provisions clarifying the timeline for felony voter-roll removals, allowing the Board of Elections to work with federal agencies to identify non-citizens on the voter rolls, creating a process for those individuals to prove citizenship and vote provisionally, and changing some KREF board appointments. He also described technical campaign-finance changes and said some provisions might still be adjusted through floor amendments.
Members raised concerns about fiscal impact, timing, and voter privacy. Rep. Bivens questioned the cost and whether the bill could affect voter records; Johnson responded that the bill itself did not require new equipment or broad new spending, though a special election in a local government failure scenario could create costs. Rep. Hancock and Rep. Marzian argued the bill could create unnecessary burdens on county clerks and questioned whether there was a demonstrated problem to justify the changes. The county clerks’ association, through Rockcastle County Clerk Danetta Ford Allen, opposed the bill as introduced, warning that citizenship checks could wrongly remove eligible voters, that online ballot images or cast vote records could threaten voter privacy and facilitate vote buying, and that the emergency clause would force major changes too close to the May primary.
Johnson defended the bill as a targeted response to a real local election failure and said the citizenship data sharing would be limited to name, date of birth, and Social Security number. He also explained that the ballot-image language was permissive and intended to let counties explore emerging technology, but he was open to removing that section or changing the effective date in a floor amendment. He further said he would consider preserving gubernatorial appointments to KREF with Senate oversight instead of shifting appointments to legislative leaders. After discussion, the committee voted 9-2 with one pass to report the bill out, with several members explaining yes votes as support for moving the bill forward while expecting further cleanup, and no votes citing cost, timing, and voter-access concerns.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House & Governmental May 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill authorizes individuals without appropriate identification to cast a conditional paper ballot
- On the paper ballot. That's my question.
- ballot, a provisional paper ballot.
- But I really think that if you do not have a picture ID, it needs to be on a paper ballot, especially
- Presenting a paper ballot at the polling location for someone to vote. Okay.
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 319, which would tighten and standardize voter identification rules at polling places. Senator Presley and Secretary of State Nancy Landry said the bill replaces the current “generally recognized” photo ID standard with a specific list of acceptable IDs, removes the affidavit-only option, and allows voters without a photo ID to cast a conditional paper ballot at the registrar of voters office or during early voting if they later provide approved documentation within two days after the election. Supporters argued the bill improves consistency, election integrity, and poll-worker guidance while still preserving access through alternative documents and free state IDs; opponents warned it could create confusion and burden seniors, students, homeless voters, and others without easy access to the required documents. After debate, the committee reported SB 319 favorably by a 7-2 vote.
The committee then approved Senate Bill 202, which adds one day of compensated meeting time for parish boards of election supervisors in certain elections, and Senate Bill 25, which revises the compensation schedule for registrars of voters and related staff. SB 25 was amended to remove outdated step references and make conforming technical changes, and supporters said the pay structure has not been updated since 2007 despite increased duties and workload. The committee also adopted and reported favorably Senate Concurrent Resolution 29, creating a legislative study committee on water quality in the Chafalalaya Basin, and House Concurrent Resolution 85, creating a task force on illegal dumping, both with technical amendments.
In addition, the committee advanced Senate Concurrent Resolution 63, which asks the legislative auditor to review how fiscal notes are prepared during session, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 33, which creates a work-based learning coordination task force to improve alignment among education, workforce, and employer partners. SCR 33 was amended to change the appointing authority for two members. The committee also approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, establishing the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, and House Resolution 196, which creates a study committee on the impact of fallen trees on residential property and insurance issues. Several of these measures were supported by agency representatives or outside groups, and the committee adopted technical amendments where needed before reporting the bills and resolutions favorably.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- and vote-by-mail ballots.
- and vote-by-mail ballots.
- We're counting your ballot.
- We use ballot tracks, and that notifies you when your ballot gets back to us.
- No ballots were in there.
Summary:
The committee heard a presentation from several county supervisors of elections and the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association on the 2024 election cycle and priorities for the 2025 session. They described very high turnout in the presidential election, major operational planning needs, and the heavy reliance on seasonal workers, list maintenance, ballot-on-demand systems, and secure chain-of-custody procedures. They also discussed the impact of recent legislative changes on voter-roll maintenance, including inactive voter removal, and said Florida’s election administration has improved to what they called a “platinum standard.”
The supervisors outlined several legislative requests: allowing more than one non-government “wild card” early voting site to improve access and emergency flexibility; requiring newly naturalized citizens to update driver’s license information so voter records match DHSMV data; exempting home addresses of certain election workers and ballot transporters from public records to improve safety and recruitment; restoring a checkbox on vote-by-mail return envelopes so voters can stay on the vote-by-mail list for the next cycle; aligning base salaries for supervisors, property appraisers, and clerks with other constitutional officers; and reducing ballot length by removing precinct committee races from the ballot. They also said they expect a committee bill to carry some of these proposals.
Members questioned the panel about ballot transport security, signature verification, vote-by-mail expiration, public records transparency, and the petition process for constitutional amendments. The supervisors said ballots are transported under detailed county plans with tamper-evident seals, chain-of-custody logs, trained workers, and in some cases two-person transport teams. On petitions, they said the process is labor-intensive and expensive, that fraud has occurred in some cases, and that they favor reforms such as requiring more personal identifying information and having initiative sponsors mail petitions to voters rather than making supervisors handle the mailing. They also said signature mismatches can be cured within 72 hours after Election Day and that voters are notified when possible. After the supervisors’ presentation, the committee also heard brief public testimony from Kathleen Griffiths, who urged adoption of commercial-style risk management standards in election systems and referenced several election-related bills her group supports.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (2-6-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- One ballot scanner machine was randomly selected to be opened so that the paper ballots could be examined
- One ballot scanner machine was randomly selected to be opened so that the paper ballots could be examined
- One ballot scanner machine was randomly selected to be opened so that the paper ballots could be examined
- One ballot scanner machine was randomly selected to be opened so that the paper ballots could be examined
- That the paper ballots could be examined.
Keywords:
Consideration of HB 27 00:04:20
Presentation by Secretary of State 00:10:44
Presentation by Karen Sellers and Jason Denny 00:35:56
Consideration of HB 45 00:55:36, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first handled House Bill 27, which would remove the prohibition on political yard signs in planned communities statewide while still allowing communities to regulate size, placement, and duration. The sponsor said the 2023 Planned Communities Act created an unintended consequence by treating similar homeowners differently based on grandfathering dates, and a legal explanation was offered that the bill would clarify the law and avoid constitutional problems. After discussion, the committee voted 15-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression.
The next item was an update from the Secretary of State on the 2024 election and implementation of House Bill 53, which created prompt post-election audits. He said the audits were carried out smoothly, most found no discrepancies, and no election winners changed, though he recommended adding a specific timeline to the law. He also discussed voter-roll maintenance, saying Kentucky has removed more than 440,000 ineligible voters since 2020, and argued that federal law and limited access to federal databases remain the main obstacles to faster cleanup.
Members asked about the possibility of improper removals, double voting across states, and how provisional voting works. The Secretary said anyone improperly removed can reregister, that any double-voting abuse is likely marginal but still unacceptable, and that provisional ballots are available when eligibility is in doubt and can be reviewed by the county board of elections. He also urged Congress to modernize the 1993 federal voter-registration law, improve access to death and citizenship data, and create a central interstate information-sharing system for election officials.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> relative to chain of custody for ballots relative to chain of custody for ballots and<00:22:24.760
- </c><00:27:06.279><c> sealer</c> write down on the actual paper sealer write down on the actual paper
- </c> have to do with how much recycled papers have to do with how much recycled papers put<00:30:47.399
- </c> perfect container for our ballots perfect container for our ballots without<00:32:21.440><c> making
- </c> programming uh for our ballot programming uh for our ballot machines<01:06:49.520><c> uh</c><01:
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- All 218,000 cast a full ballot.
- Separate ballot systems in each county.
- And they're not just given a federal ballot.
- We could create a system for mail ballots.
- process for limited federal ballots is different from that for full ballots.
Keywords:
HB 2442, Texas Election Code, Election Code Section 84.001, early voting, ballot by mail, mail ballot, absentee voting, runoff election, primary runoff, general runoff, voter application, election administration, county election officials, opt-out, voter choice, mail voting, ballot application, voting by mail, Election Code, size requirements