AK HB132

Official ballots must contain a watermark, seal, or other security identifier (including election official's signature), and ballots without one cannot be counted.

Director must establish a ballot security and chain of custody system tracking all ballots for 22 months after election certification, with signed documentation accompanying ballot transfers and barcode tracking for ballots outside division custody.

Director shall establish a toll-free election offense hotline continuously staffed during absentee voting, early voting, 24 hours after polls open on election day, and until results are certified; hotline number must be posted on voting machines and ballot envelopes.

Absentee ballots received after election day without postmarks or with postmarks after election day cannot be counted unless the ballot envelope has a United States Postal Service tracking barcode verifying mailing on or before election day.

Director must establish an online multi-factor authentication ballot tracking system allowing voters to confirm ballot receipt, track delivery, verify certificate review, confirm counting, and access information to cure rejected ballots at no cost.

Precinct tabulators cannot be connected to Internet or cellular networks from 24 hours before election day until 14 days after polls close; director must conduct routine forensic examinations before and after each election and develop cybersecurity training for election officials.