California Bill Banning Hand Counting of Election Ballots Nearing Approval
A Bill to Ban Hand Counting of Ballots in California Moves Forward
A bill that could have a significant impact on future elections in California is making its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Assembly Bill 969, authored by Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin, aims to prohibit the hand counting of ballots in most elections in the state.
The bill states that any regularly scheduled election with over 1,000 registered voters or special elections with over 5,000 registered voters would be required to use state-approved machines for vote counting.
Assemblywoman Pellerin expressed her support for the bill, emphasizing that it would ensure secure, auditable, and accessible voting systems for all Californians. She believes that using voting machines is a faster, more accurate, and reliable method of counting votes.
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However, the bill does allow for hand counting in certain situations, such as during natural disasters or states of emergency when electronic voting systems are impractical.
The bill has received support from lawmakers along party lines and has undergone multiple amendments before passing in both legislative houses. It is a response to the decision made by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors to cancel their lease agreement with Dominion Voting Systems and opt for hand-counting ballots instead.
If signed into law, AB 969 would prevent Shasta County, as well as other counties in California, from manually counting votes in future elections. The League of Women Voters of California supports the bill, stating that the actions taken by Shasta County jeopardize election integrity and public trust.
Opponents of the bill argue that machine voting has its flaws and that relying solely on technology may not be reliable. They believe that the Shasta County Board of Supervisors made a responsible decision based on evidence and considerations specific to their county.
Regardless of the outcome, the bill has sparked a debate about the future of voting systems in California and the importance of ensuring secure and accurate elections.
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