House Bill 1416 Summary

• Requires all elections to use paper ballots hand-marked by voters, with paper ballot marking devices available only for disabled voters who request assistance.

• Prohibits direct-record electronic touch-screen voting machines from being added to election authority inventories; existing machines may only serve disabled voters until removed due to malfunction or wear.

• Eliminates the ability to vote a straight political party ticket with a single selection on the ballot in partisan elections.

• Requires the Secretary of State to approve marking devices and automatic tabulating equipment for electronic voting systems, with specific technical standards for vote counting and security features.

• Mandates election authorities to preserve all voted ballots, ballot cards, and election-related materials for 22 months and requires completion of an audit before certification of any election.