Video & Transcript Research : 'hand counting'

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WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, February 27, 2026

Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:
  • If I, a candidate, want it to be a hand count, I have to put $5,000 in and it'll be hand counted.
  • or a hand count.
  • Uh and then also count or a hand count.
  • <01:37:51.920> count the bill, what if the um hand count the bill, what if the um hand count
  • hand counting is just a double check. hand counting is just a double check. and<01:43:01.280>
Bills: HB0022, HB0052, HB0076
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, February 16, 2026

Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:52:45.359> than hand counting is worse than than hand counting is worse than than tabulation
  • and hand audits of the machine count.
  • <00:57:22.640> counts,<00:57:23.119> hand outstanding issues on hand counts, hand outstanding
  • issues on hand counts, hand recounts. recounts. recounts.
  • Um it's that hand counting um consumes.
Bills: SF0102, SF0113
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/11/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • We should all want our vote to count. We're supposed to be We should all want our vote to count.
  • This strike everything amendment is to reduce lines and ensure every legal vote counts.
  • We'd count early ballots accidentally return to the wrong counties and we'd allow the collection and
  • I do reserve the right to—I lost count, so if the bill has failed, thank you.
  • I lost count, so if the bill is failed, if the bill is failed, we do have a striker that Mr.
Summary: The Committee on Federal and Military Affairs and Elections heard a lengthy presentation on an investigative referral concerning alleged voter registration anomalies in Arizona from March 2023 onward. The chair described examples involving out-of-state residents, deceased registrants, military voters, duplicate or mismatched registrations, and registrations tied to Service Arizona, ACCESS, third-party vendors, and NGOs. Members also discussed alleged mismatches between county recorder data and Secretary of State reports, possible issues with automatic voter registration, and concerns about public records compliance. At the end of the presentation, members were asked whether they wanted to sign onto a criminal referral to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice; several declined, while others agreed, and the committee proceeded after correcting a signature-block issue. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1259, which would allow certain protected individuals to use an alternate mailing address and attest to their residential address on candidate and financial disclosure filings. After questions about residency verification and confidentiality, the bill received a do pass recommendation by a 6-1 vote. Senate Bill 1281, dealing with state land department procedures for covered federal designations and notification of land takings, was heard next; after opposition testimony from the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, it passed 4-3. Senate Bill 1037, concerning election equipment security and internet connectivity, drew substantial debate. A Marquez strike-everything amendment that would have shifted the bill toward voting centers, ERIC participation, early voting changes, and election funding failed on a 4-3 vote. The underlying bill then failed to receive a do pass recommendation on a 3-3-1 vote. Finally, Senate Bill 1040, which would make voter registration rolls publicly accessible online and downloadable, passed 4-3 after questions about what information would remain redacted and concerns about public access to voter data.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 8th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • While Texas law currently requires post-election hand count audits, the evolving landscape of election
  • This measure makes the existing process even better, expanding the required hand counts and encouraging
  • I think this is a great thing to do, to have these hand-counted audits.
  • This also standardizes our pre-election audit, so it goes hand in hand with the bill we just heard by
  • I think it's critical that we test all of the central counting or all of the counting station tabulation
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/18/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • I have to say the statement so I count on members to say aye or nay. What is Mr. Marquez?
  • The amendment applies the counting center provisions of the bill to election management systems.
  • Well, it's time for the people of Arizona to take matters into their own hands.
  • to be counting and maintaining a chain of custody.
  • Counts for them, that they are actually choosing their elected officials, and when people present you
Summary: The committee first considered SB 1018, which would expand Arizona’s foreign law statute to expressly include Sharia law and certain foreign religious or cultural laws or customs that condone practices such as honor killings or other conduct violating criminal law. The sponsor said the bill was meant to strengthen enforcement against foreign, private, or religious adjudications that violate constitutional rights, while opponents, including the ACLU, argued it was unconstitutional, singled out Islam, and was part of a broader anti-Muslim effort. After extended debate, the committee approved SB 1018 on a 4-3 vote. The committee then heard SB 1568, requiring election systems and software clocks to be set to accurate time and verified during logic and accuracy, compatibility, and security testing. Supporters said accurate timekeeping is important for chain of custody and election integrity; county representatives opposed the bill as impractical because some equipment is not connected to the internet, batteries can drain, and different time zones in Arizona complicate compliance. The bill passed 4-3. Next, SB 1687 proposed moving primary elections to the Tuesday before Memorial Day, adjusting nomination paper filing windows, and changing the date used to calculate required petition signatures. A Marquez amendment dealing with Clean Elections timing and funding was offered but defeated. The sponsor said the bill would reduce extreme heat burdens and improve participation; county officials were neutral but noted timing changes would require broader cleanup. The committee then approved SB 1687 on a 4-3 vote. The committee also considered SB 1825, which changes how precinct committeeman vacancies are filled by giving legislative district chairs or county chairs authority depending on the situation and requiring action within 30 days. Supporters said it would streamline a slow, opaque process and improve local control; opponents warned it could concentrate power and be abused. An amendment limiting the bill to counties over 500,000 people was adopted, and the bill passed 4-1 with one present and one absent. Finally, the committee revisited SB 1037, which imposes security requirements on voting and tabulating equipment, including no internet connectivity, user logins, chain-of-custody controls, and continuous video recording at counting centers. An amendment broadened the bill to cover election management systems and tightened the no-connectivity and no-port provisions. The sponsor and amendment proponent argued the bill was needed to prevent indirect internet access and strengthen election security. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on SB 1037.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/04/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Summary: The Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections met and took up several election- and campaign-related bills. SB 1006 would raise the threshold for itemizing in-state individual campaign contributions in committee reports from $100 to $200 and increase the aggregate reporting threshold accordingly; staff described it as a straightforward campaign finance update, and it passed 4-3. SB 1029 would treat a candidate committee as intending to terminate upon the candidate’s death and allow certain designated individuals to serve as treasurer; testimony from the Town of Queen Creek described practical problems encountered after the deaths of officeholders, and the bill passed unanimously 7-0. SB 1038 would require county election officials to transmit the cast vote record to the Secretary of State and prohibit alteration except as otherwise allowed; members debated whether CVRs are already public records and whether the bill was needed, and it passed 4-3. SB 1237 would add county recorders and the House and Senate election committee leaders to the list of officials consulted by the Secretary of State when prescribing the Elections Procedures Manual; county officials testified this would better reflect their role in early voting and other election functions, and it passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1057, which would require vendors providing ballot paper fraud countermeasures to meet specified ISO certifications and include at least three of ten listed security features. Staff explained the ISO standards, and members discussed whether the bill needed additional safeguards and whether it differed from a vetoed bill from the prior session. The bill passed 4-3, with some members noting they wanted amendments or had concerns about the standards and the bill’s structure. After discussing several additional measures, the chair indicated he was not comfortable moving the remaining bills without the sponsor present. Without objection, the committee held the remaining bills and adjourned.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 3rd, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Requiring the continuous counting of ballots prevents individuals at the Central Counting Station from
  • continuously count ballots.
  • They have to be continuously counting ballots throughout that counting period.
  • Internet and the code that central counting has to have continuous counting. You're correct.
  • They can count on the numbers and their vote being counted properly.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The Rangers knew how to hand it off to them, and that's how it wound up in the AG's office. 246 Thank
  • Candidates and voters. 670 effort on hand-counted paper ballots.
  • sure that the alternate judges are not subjected to the presiding judge at Central Count.
  • So I'd just like you to kind of close that loop with central count and maybe the ballot board also.
  • When you start handing things out to people unsolicited.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • that, a short-barreled rifle provides three points of contact. out with, of course, the forend, your hand
  • on the handle. hand guard, and then, of course, the portion that is on your shoulder as well, making
  • this again, and I don't mean to demonstrate, but if you have your pistol extending... beyond your hands
  • It's an inoperable piece of equipment that will explain this, if you'd like to put your hands and see
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part I) Mar 13th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • In addition to that, a short-barreled rifle provides three points of contact: the fore-end, your hand
  • does this again, and I don't mean to demonstrate, but if you have your pistol extending beyond your hands
  • this again, and I, I don't mean to demonstrate, but if you have your pistol extending beyond your hands
  • I just have an inoperable piece of equipment that will explain this if you'd like to put your hands on
Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1596, which would remove short-barreled rifles from the list of prohibited weapons in the Texas Penal Code. The author, Sen. Hagenbuch, said the bill would align state law with federal realities and argued that the current prohibition is arbitrary and unnecessary. Supporters, including representatives from Gun Owners of America and Texas Gun Rights, said the bill would reduce confusion, protect lawful gun owners, and preserve the ability to use shorter firearms for self-defense, hunting, and for smaller shooters. One supporter also described a recent case in which an AR pistol was mistaken for a short-barreled rifle and led to a state charge that was later dismissed. Public testimony was split. Supporters said stabilizing braces and shorter firearms can improve accuracy, safety, and accessibility for women, children, and smaller-statured shooters. Opponents, including Texas Gun Sense and two Santa Fe shooting survivors, argued that short-barreled firearms are more concealable and dangerous, and pointed to the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting as evidence of the risks of easier access. They urged the committee to keep the existing restrictions in place to protect public safety. After public testimony closed, the committee took up pending business. Senate Bill 1505, relating to the Compassionate Use Program, was reported favorably to the full Senate on an 8-0 vote. Senate Bill 17, relating to the acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities, was first amended by adopting a committee substitute and then reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-1 vote. The committee then recessed until after the Senate’s adjournment or final recess.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 15th, 2025 at 08:05 am

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm handing out, we love 2217 from Senator Hughes.
  • I think we need to think about counting. As current right now it is.
  • And then they just count the next ones, not clear it out.
  • day votes were counted once. ...times one, two, and then I guess election day votes were counted once
  • Yeah, Kyle, will you wave your hand? Everybody in election knows Kyle.
Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills. SB 447 would let the City of Mission in Hidalgo County permanently move its municipal elections from May to the uniform November election date if it chooses. The bill was described as permissive and intended to increase turnout and reduce costs. Mission’s mayor testified in support, saying voters had already approved the change by a wide margin in a charter amendment election. The bill was left pending after no objection. SB 2217 focused on standardizing election data reporting and reconciliation across counties to improve transparency and comparability. Testimony was generally supportive of the goal, but Dr. Laura Presley and others flagged technical issues, including a discrepancy between a three-ballot mismatch threshold in existing law and a 1% threshold in part of the bill, plus a definition issue involving central accumulators. Supporters said consistent auditing and reconciliation would help election integrity, while the bill was also left pending. The committee then took up SB 2753, a major proposal to create a continuous in-person voting period that would combine early voting and Election Day into one uninterrupted process, with precinct consolidation and other changes. Supporters said it could simplify administration, reduce equipment changes, and improve security by using one set of machines. Opponents and neutral witnesses raised concerns about cost, staffing, ballot security, reporting changes, weekend voting, and whether the bill was ready for implementation; several urged a pilot or study instead. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. SB 505 would create a process for election workers, candidates, party officials, and measure proponents or opponents to request explanations of election irregularities, with escalation to the Secretary of State for audit or enforcement if responses were unsatisfactory. Supporters said it would provide a way to resolve irregularities and restore confidence, while opponents argued it was too broad, lacked guardrails against abuse, and could be used by partisan actors to pressure counties. The bill was left pending. Finally, HB 311 would expand Texas’s online voter registration system to first-time registrants and others, with supporters citing efficiency, lower costs, and broader access, and opponents raising concerns about signature verification and implementation details. Testimony was cut short because of the session deadline, and the bill had not been disposed of in the excerpt.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 15th, 2025 at 08:05 am

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm handing out what we love about 2217 from Senator Hughes.
  • I think we need to think about counting. As current right now it is.
  • And then they just count the next ones, not clear it out.
  • day votes were counted once.
  • Times one, two, and then I guess election day votes were counted once.
Summary: The House Committee on Elections met with a quorum present and heard several election-related bills, with public testimony limited to two minutes per witness. The first measure, SB 447, would allow the City of Mission to move its municipal elections from May to November on a one-time, permanent basis. Supporters, including Mission’s mayor, said voters had already approved the change by a wide margin and argued it would improve turnout and reduce costs. The bill was left pending after no objection. The committee then heard SB 2217, which was described as a transparency measure to standardize election data reporting and reconciliation across counties. Testimony focused on a technical issue involving discrepancy thresholds for electronic voting system reconciliation, with one witness urging the bill be aligned with existing law’s “more than 3” standard rather than a 1% threshold, and another suggesting a definition fix. The bill was left pending. Members also heard SB 2753, a major proposal to create a continuous in-person voting period by combining early voting and election day into one uninterrupted period, with a committee substitute making it a pilot and permissive. Supporters said it could simplify administration and improve security, while opponents warned it would increase costs, require more staffing and equipment, delay results, and create logistical problems for counties. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 505 would let certain election stakeholders request explanations of irregularities from election officials and, if unresolved, escalate the matter to the Secretary of State for audit or possible conservatorship. Supporters framed it as a tool for accountability and transparency, while opponents called it overly broad and vulnerable to abuse. The bill was left pending. The committee also took up HB 311, which would expand online voter registration to first-time registrants and direct state agencies to develop a pathway for Texans without a driver’s license to register online. Supporters argued it would modernize the process, reduce errors, and save money, while opponents said first-time applicants still need a wet signature and raised concerns about signature verification and implementation. Due to the late hour and floor deadline, testimony was cut off, the names of remaining witnesses were read into the record, and the bill was left pending before the committee adjourned.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/14/2026 - Senate Judiciary and Elections

Judiciary and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • If they misbehaved, I didn't count to three; they were out on number one.
  • If they misbehaved, I didn't count to three, they were out on number one.
  • How many of you would you raise your hand if you're here to testify?
  • Okay, raise your hand.
  • They weren't involved in the counting. So it's crazy to do that.
Summary: The Judiciary and Elections Committee opened with roll call, member introductions, and a lengthy agenda item on alleged anomalies involving the State Bar of Arizona. The committee heard live testimony from a former attorney who described his disciplinary experience as retaliatory and unfair, and staff read excerpts from affidavits criticizing bar discipline procedures, notice, and due process. Members debated the State Bar’s authority, attorney discipline rules, and whether attorneys can practice while under investigation, with some arguing the bar is unaccountable and others emphasizing the Supreme Court’s oversight and existing disciplinary procedures. The committee then considered several election-related bills. SB 1037, requiring stricter security measures for vote-recording and tabulating equipment, passed 4-2-1 after members debated claims of election-system vulnerabilities and the cost of added safeguards. SB 1038, which would make cast vote records publicly available quickly after polls close, was amended to require transmission to the Secretary of State within 48 hours after canvass and then passed 4-2-1. SB 1040, expanding public online access to voter registration rolls in read-only form, also passed 4-2-1 after privacy concerns were raised and the sponsor argued for transparency. The committee next approved SB 1039, allowing attorneys who prevail in discipline matters to seek damages for reputational harm and lost earnings, despite objections that it raised separation-of-powers concerns and testimony about bar discipline procedures. SB 1053, capping Arizona resident concealed-carry permit fees at 10% of the nonresident fee, passed 4-2-1 after supporters framed it as a constitutional-rights and affordability measure and opponents raised public-safety and revenue concerns. SB 1057, requiring ballot paper fraud-countermeasure features, passed 4-2-1 after debate over cost and vendor capability. SB 1060, removing a voting exemption for U.S. citizens who have never resided in the United States, passed 3-2-2 amid concerns about unintended effects on military families. Finally, SB 1061, lowering the fentanyl threshold for enhanced sentencing from 200 grams to 9 grams, drew strong opposition from defense and civil-liberties witnesses who warned it would sweep in users and prescribed medications; the transcript ends during that testimony, before a final action is shown.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 15th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • They canceled the machine out, but it still makes your count off.
  • then they'd just count the next ones, not clear it out.
  • They'd do that, and so they ended up with one set counted three times and another set counted once.
  • Then, I guess, on election day, both were counted once.
  • Yeah, Kyle, will you wave your hand? Everyone...
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 9th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • They're impeding the hand count process.
  • Successful hand count that didn't exist. We had a difficult process. Hand counting is a good thing.
  • At the count, right? Okay? So it is not easy hand counting these things.
  • So, when you're doing a post-election random audit, if the election was hand-counted, is the audit hand-counted
  • hand count.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part II) Mar 31st, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • And it's as disparate as $180,000 on one hand and $37,000 on the other.
  • We do want to leave this in the hands of the jury. That we can agree on.
  • She handed him her phone.
  • If two hundred and fifty is the max, that's a slap on the hand. So I just...
  • If we can't count on fair compensation, we can count on unfair compensation. ...continue to provide care
Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss several critical pieces of legislation including SB30 and SB38. Senator Betancourt introduced a committee substitute for SB38 which underwent a smooth adoption process, moving it favorably toward the Senate. The meeting featured a mix of invited testimonies where both proponents and opponents took the floor. One notable highlight included a testimony from Melissa Casey, who criticized the current legal state as prone to fraud and detrimental to both insurers and the public at large, contending that it inflated insurance costs across the board. The discussions delved deeply into the implications of the bills on judicial processes and potential insurance ramifications, with spirited debates surrounding issues of non-economic damages and jury rights. The atmosphere remained engaged as committee members heard varied perspectives on the bills, showcasing a robust democratic process. The meeting underscored the importance of public testimony in shaping legislation, ensuring that multiple voices were considered as the committee pressed on towards making decisions that affect the legal landscape of Texas.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • There are a handful of labs that meet that qualification.
  • Very easy to get your hand in between the two flaps.
  • The second hand doesn't need to be there, but the minute hand, I think, is fine. Yeah.
  • You might not be able to see the second hand.
  • So that means that anytime ballots are counted, we're going to run a test before the ballots are counted