Committee hears debate over bill letting 100 voters trigger hand recounts in municipalities using counting machines

Senator Kevin Avard introduced Senate Bill 44, which would allow a hand recount of ballots in a municipality that uses ballot-counting machines upon the written request of 100 registered voters who voted in that election.

The bill prompted a lengthy hearing with sharply divided testimony. Secretary of State David Scanlon and multiple municipal clerks and civic groups opposed the measure, warning it would create competing recount authorities, lack uniform procedures, impose costs and pose timing problems for ballot preparation and certification. Supporters said the measure would improve transparency and give citizens a direct check on machine counts.

“Cities and towns are granted the authority of determining whether or not they wanna use a ballot counting device,” said David Scanlon, Secretary of State. He told the committee SB 44 would effectively give cities and towns recount authority in state or federal contests and remove the Secretary of State’s exclusive, uniform…