House approves bill to require voter-verifiable paper record for electronic voting

The Utah House on the floor passed first substitute House Bill 211, a measure to bolster the integrity of elections by requiring that electronic voting equipment be capable of producing a permanent paper record of votes that a voter may observe. Sponsor Representative John Dougal said the provision is "critical to ensuring the integrity of the election process" and described requirements that voters be able to verify and correct their ballots and that a voting-equipment selection committee be formed with representatives of varied expertise.

During floor debate Representatives questioned the fiscal impact. Representative Snow asked the sponsor to clarify the fiscal note; the sponsor read the estimate that outfitting polling places with printing-capable equipment could require up to about $5,177,000 and that if federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds are insufficient a state appropriation might be necessary. Representative Snow and others expressed concern about whether counties or the state would ultimately bear the cost.

Supporters stressed public confidence in elections and accessibility. Representative Becker, a cosponsor, praised the bill as a step to ensure voters that votes "reflect what we think they were and were counted properly." Opponents asked whether the bill goes beyond HAVA’s requirements; the sponsor said HAVA requires a paper trail but this bill emphasizes a paper record that the voter can observe and formalizes the selection committee chaired by the Lieutenant Governor’s office.

The House voted to pass the bill, 66 yes to 5 no. The measure will be sent to the Senate for further consideration.