Relating to the procedures for a public test of logic and accuracy of a voting system for certain elections.
Summary
HB 4985 revises the Election Code requirements for the public logic-and-accuracy testing of voting systems in certain elections. The bill expands the list of procedures the general custodian of election records must include in testing protocols, requiring tests to cover all contest positions, precincts, ballot styles, overvotes, undervotes, write-in votes, provisional votes, and expected results calculations. It also adds specific verification steps for public counters on voting machines, accessibility features used by disabled voters, and electronic poll lists used to assign precinct and ballot style information to voters.
For runoff primary elections, the bill adds an extra safeguard requiring verification that electronic poll lists contain the correct political party affiliation information for each voter. The changes apply only to elections ordered on or after the bill’s effective date of September 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill amends Section 129.023 of the Texas Election Code by making the required public test procedures for voting systems more detailed and more explicit. It places additional duties on the general custodian of election records and testing boards to verify ballot styles, voter assignment data, accessibility functions, and party affiliation data in runoff primaries. The practical effect is to tighten pre-election testing and documentation requirements for election administrators and voting system testing boards, especially where electronic poll lists and accessible voting features are used.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was referred to the House Elections Committee and there are no recorded votes or committee transcript excerpts indicating debate. Based on the bill’s content, it appears to be framed as a technical election-administration measure focused on accuracy and verification rather than a broader policy change. The absence of recorded opposition or support in the provided materials means the overall sentiment cannot be measured directly from debate, but the proposal appears procedural and administrative in nature.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided committee materials or vote history. Potential areas of concern, based on the text, could include the added administrative burden on election officials, the feasibility of verifying electronic poll list data and party affiliation information, and the implementation of new testing steps for accessibility features and ballot-style matching. However, no legislator, witness, or stakeholder objections are included in the record provided.
In electronic voting systems, further providing for definitions and for supplies and preparation of the voting system and of polling places and providing for pre-election logic and accuracy testing; and, in penalties, providing for falsification of election-related documentation regarding pre-election logic and accuracy testing.
In electronic voting systems, further providing for definitions and for supplies and preparation of the voting system and of polling places and providing for pre-election logic and accuracy testing.
Elections: voting equipment; use of electronic voting systems that contain certain parts or equipment; prohibit. Amends secs. 795 & 795a of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.795 & 168.795a).
Elections: voting equipment; use of electronic voting systems that contain certain parts or equipment; prohibit. Amends secs. 795 & 795a of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.795 & 168.795a).
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-15 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the prohibition against using voting systems in certain elections; and to amend and reenact sections 16.1-06-12, 16.1-06-14, and 16.1-06-15 and subsection 1 of section 16.1-06-26 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to election security and validation.