ID H0491

Requires any voting machine or vote tally system to be certified by the Idaho Secretary of State and meet federal election commission standards before use in Idaho elections.

Mandates independent testing by an authority designated by the Secretary of State for all voting machines and systems, except for functions or capabilities unique to Idaho, prior to certification.

Requires the Secretary of State to file a report within 30 days of approving a voting machine or system, including written or printed descriptions, drawings, and photographs, and to provide copies to state governing bodies upon request.

Prohibits direct recording electronic voting devices from use in elections after 2004 unless they include a voter verifiable paper audit trail and declares any certifications of such devices without a paper trail null and void.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to periodically review certified voting systems and decertify any that do not meet federal election assistance commission or National Institute of Standards and Technology standards after a public hearing.