This web page summarizes voter-verifiable paper records (VVPRs) legislative and administrative requirements. On other web pages, you can research election audit legislation and election recount legislation. On this page, you can go directly to federal legislation, state legislation, state and local initiatives/referenda, or international legislation. If you have updates or corrections on verified voting legislation or requirements, please let us know. Thank you!

Link: Federal Legislation from 110th Session (2007-2008)

Link: Federal Legislation from 109th Session (2005-2006)

Link: Federal Legislation from 108th Session (2003-2004)

State-level VVPR Requirements VVPR Map Legend Legislation / Regulation Requiring Paper Ballots (31) Mixed Requirement (1) Proposed, Not Yet Enacted (8+DC) Not Yet Proposed (10)

States that established VVPR or paper ballot requirements by executive order:
Michigan Missouri Nevada

States that established VVPR or paper ballot requirements prior to 2003:

New Hampshire, New Hampshire statutes Chapter 656:41, "...no voting machine or device shall be used in any election in this state unless it reads the voter's choice on a paper ballot ..."

Rhode Island, State of Rhode Island General Laws Section 17-19-2.1, "...the general assembly determines that an optical scan precinct count voting system as described in § 17-19-3 shall be employed in elections held in the State of Rhode Island beginning in 1997.

South Dakota, SL 1994, Chapter 110 §22, enacted in 1994

State-level VVPR legislation that has already been passed / signed into law:

State	Date Enacted	Statute / Session Law text	House Bill	Senate Bill	House Vote	Senate Vote
Alaska	7/4/2004	AK Code §§15.15.030 15.15.032, 15.20.064, and 15.60.010 / Chapter 154 SLA 04 text	H.B.459		35-0	18-0
Arizona	6/28/2006	ARS §§16-411, 16-445, 16-446, 16-535, 16-602, 16-663 Chapter 44 §8 SL 2006 text		S.B. 1557	51-0	25-3
Arkansas	3/9/2005	AR Code §§7-5-504, 7-5-532 / Act 654, 2005 Regular Session text	H.B.360		79-6	34-0
California	9/27/2004	Cal. Election Code §§ 19250, 19251, 19252 / Chapter 814, Statutes of 2004 text		S.B.1438	73-0	31-0
Colorado	6/6/2005	CO Revised Statutes §§1-1-104, 1-5-801, 1-5-802, 1-7-514, 1-10.5-102, 1-10.5-103 / Chapter 309, SL 2005 text		S.B.05-198
Connecticut	7/1/2005	Public Act 05-188 text		S.B.55
Florida	5/21/2007	FL Statutes §§101.56075 and 101.591, Chapter 2007-30 SL 2007 text	H.B. 537		118-0	37-2
Hawaii	7/6/2005	HRS §16-42; Act 200 SL 2005 text	H.B.1740
Idaho	4/5/2005	Idaho Code §34-2409, Chapter 282 SL 2005 text	H.B.283		63-0	34-0
Illinois	8/21/2003	10 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/24A-16		SB 428
Iowa	5/25/2007	Code 2007 §52.7 subsection 2		S.F. 369	53-42	45-5
Iowa	04/01/2008	Code 2008, section 52.2, subsection 2		S.F. 2347	92-6	47-1
Maine	4/24/2004	21-A M.R.S. Section 812 (10)	L.D.1759
Maine	6/23/2005	21-A MRSA §607, sub-§6, 21-A MRSA §737-B	L.D.1026
Maryland	5/17/2007	Maryland Code Article- Election Law §9-102, Chapter 548 SL 2007 text	H.B. 18	S.B. 392	140-0	47-0
Minnesota	6/3/2005	Ch. 162 Session Law 2005	H.F.874		133-0	63-0
Montana	4/18/2005	§13-17-103 MCA	H.B.297		94-3	50-0
New Jersey	7/7/2005		A. 33
New Jersey	5/4/2008	P.L. 2008 Ch. 18
New Mexico	4/6/2005			S.B.678
New York	7/12/2005		A.8969	S.5877
North Carolina	8/26/2005	General Statutes §§163-165.7, 163-166.7(c),163-182.1(b), 163-182.2, 163-182.7A / Session Law 2005-323 text		S. 223	unanimous	unanimous
Ohio	5/7/2004	Ohio. Rev. Code Ann. Section 3506.10 (P)	H.B.262
Oregon	8/17/2005	ORS §§246.012, 246.550, 246.560, 254.005, 254.485, and 258.211 / Chapter 731 (2005 Laws)	HB 2169		58-0	29-0
Tennessee	6/5/2008	Public Chapter No. 1108	HB 1256	SB 1363		33-0
Utah	3/16/2005		H.B.211
Utah	5/3/2005		H.B.1005
Vermont	4/15/2005			S.0202
Washington	5/3/2005	Chapter 242, 2005 Session Law text (PDF)		S.B.5395
West Virginia	5/4/2005	Chapter 103, Acts 2005	H.B.2950
Wisconsin	1/4/2006 (effective 1/20/2006)	2005 Wisconsin Act 92 text	A.B. 627		91-4	unanimous

State-level VVPR legislation filed, prefiled, or carried forward into the 2007 legislative session

District of Columbia Bill 18-345, referred to Committee on Government Operations and the Environment on June 16, 2009, recommended for adoption on September 25, 2009.

Florida H 43, filed 11/29/2006, posted 1/8/2007, referred to Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council on 3/6/2007.

Florida H 213, filed 1/10/2007, posted 1/10/2007, referred to Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council on 2/7/2007, on Council agenda for 4/13/2007, Council substitute passed by Council (14-0), read first time and filed on 4/23/2007, committee substitute passed by Policy and Budget Council (28-0) on 4/25/2007, placed on Special Order calendar on 4/27/2007.

Florida H 377, filed 1/19/2007. posted 1/19/2007, referred to Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council on 3/6/2007.

Florida HB 537, filed 1/23/2007, Committee substitute filed 3/6/2007, Committee substitute passed as amended (115-1) on 3/21/2007, Senate Committee on Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations substituted for CS/CS/SB 960 on 4/26/2007, passed as amended (37-2) on 4/27/2007, House concurred with Senate amendments (118-0), engrossed, and enrolled on 5/3/2007, signed by Officers and presented to Governor on 5/9/2007, approved by Governor on 5/21/2007.

Florida S 342, filed 12/15/2006, posted 12/15/2006, referred to Ethics and Elections; Judiciary on 3/6/2007.

Florida S 462, filed 12/21/2006, posted 12/15/2006, referred to Ethics and Elections; Judiciary on 3/6/2007.

Florida SB 960, filed 1/26/2007, introduced 3/6/2007 and referred to Ethics and Elections, on 4/12/2007 placed on agenda for 4/17/2007, Committee substitute combined this bill with SB 1010 and passed substitute by (7-0) on 4/17/2007, substitute read first time on 4/19/2007, referred to Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations and placed on Committee agenda for 4/24/2007, 8:15 a.m., Room 309-C; placed on special order calendar and read 2nd time on 4/26/2007; multiple amendments adopted and ordered engrossed on 4/26/2007.

Florida S 1174, filed and posted 2/07/2007, introduced 3/06/2007, on 4/12/2007, placed on the agenda for Ethics and Elections Committee for 4/17/2007, 2 p.m., Room 412-K, Committee substitute passed (7-0) on 4/17/2007, substitute read first time on 4/19/2007, referred to Judiciary on 4/19/2007, on agenda for 4/20/2007, favorable report by Judiciary (7-2) on 4/23/2007, in Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations on 4/24/2007.

Florida S 2164, filed and posted 2/26/2007, introduced 3/15/2007, on 4/12/2007, placed on the agenda for Ethics and Elections Committee for 4/17/2007, 2 p.m., Room 412-K, temporarily postponed.

Florida S. 2242, filed and posted 2/27/2007, introduced 3/15/2007.

Georgia HB 9, prefiled 11/27/2006, House second readers on 1/25/2007.

Iowa SF 369, introduced 3/6/2007, amended 3/27/2007, passed by Senate (45-5) on 3/27/2007, amendments in House filed on 3/27/2007 and 4/2/2007, referred to Appropriations on 4/5/2007, passed on file 4/18/2007, further amendment filed 4/23/2007, passed by House without amendments (53-42) on 4/28/2007, approved by Governor on 5/25/2007.

Iowa HF 845, introduced 3/19/2007, amended on 3/26/2007 and 3/27/2007, referred to Appropriations on 4/5/2007, successor bill HF 926 (companion to SF 369) introduced and referred to appropriations on 4/20/2007.

Maryland HB 18, filed 1/12/2007, hearing in Ways and Means on 2/1/2007, favorable report with amendments, second reading passed with amendments 3/17/2007, Third reading passed (140-0) on 3/18/2007, to Senate, first reading in committee on 3/21/2007, passed with amendments by Senate (47-0) on 4/4/2007, House concurrence and passage (140-0), enrolled on 4/6/2007, approved by Governor on 5/17/2007, enacted as Chapter 548, effective 10/1/2007. (Applies to elections starting 1/1/2010, contingent on FY 2009 funding).

Maryland SB 392, first reading 2/2/2007, amended on 3/24/2007, 3/26/2007, 4/1/2007, second reading passed with amendments on 4/1/2007, passed by Senate (47-0) on 4/2/2007, passed with amendments in House (139-0), Senate concurrence and passage (47-0), enrolled on 4/6/2007, Approved by Governor on 5/17/2007, enacted as Chapter 547, effective 10/1/2007. (Applies to elections starting 1/1/2010, contingent on FY 2009 funding).

Pennsylvania HB 53, filed 1/19/2007, referred to State Government Committee on 1/30/2007.

South Carolina S 256, introduced 1/9/2007, referred to subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee on 1/17/2007.

Texas HB 123 prefiled 11/13/2006, referred to Election Committe on 2/1/2007.

Texas HB 384, filed 12/13/2006, public hearing held on 2/21/2007, left pending in committee.

Virginia HB 1243, prefiled 1/11/2006, assigned to Appropriations Subcommittee and General Government and Technology Committee 2/8/2006, on 2/10/2006 carried over into Appropriate Commitee in 2007 session.

Virginia HB 2077, prefiled 1/8/2007.

Virginia HB 2707H1, prefiled 1/10/2007, approved with substitute by Privileges and Elections (19-3) on 2/2/2007, third reading in House on 2/6/2007, approved by Governor on 4/10/2007, enacted as Chapter 939, effective 7/1/2007.

Virginia SB 424, prefiled 1/11/2006, on 1/31/2006 Privileges and Election Committee continued this bill to the 2007 session.

Virginia SB 272, prefiled 1/11/2006, reported from Privileges and Elections Committee with amendment 1/31/2006, reported from Finance Committee with amendment 2/8/2006, passed by Senate (40-0) on 2/13/2006, first reading in House on 2/14/2006, on 03/06/2006 Appropriation Committee continued this bill into the 2007 session.

Virginia SB 840S, prefiled 1/05/2007, committee substitute agreed to on 1/26/2007, passed by Senate (36,4) on 1/29/2007, committee substitute SB 840H1 passed by House (86-12) on 2/20/2007, House substitute agreed to by Senate (36,3) on 2/22/2007, enrolled as SB 840ER on 3/07/2007, signed by House Speaker on 3/07/2007, signed by Senate President on 3/08/2007, Governor's recommendation (changing effective date from 2007 to 2008) transmitted to Senate on 3/26/2007, Governor's amendment rejected by House on 4/4/2007, approved by Governor on 4/10/2007, enacted as Chapter 943, effective 7/1/2007.

Florida, Sarasota County Charter Amendment, passed by voters 55% to 45% on 11/7/2006;
Summary: MANDATORY VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS; INDEPENDENT RANDOM AUDITS OF ELECTION RESULTS; AUDITS REQUIRED BEFORE CERTIFICATION. Amend the Sarasota County Charter to require that, effective January 1, 2008: (1) all County voting systems provide a voter verified paper ballot; (2) in addition to election code audits, mandatory independent random audits of election results be conducted in every election comparing hand counts to machine counts; (3) mandatory manual audit of all paper ballots if audit discrepancies reach specified thresholds; (4) no election certified until all mandatory audits are complete and any inaccuracies resolved.
Full text of charter amendment (PDF-format)

State-level VVPR legislation from 2006 legislative session

Legislation Outside U.S.A.

Please contact us if you know of any such legislation.

Legislation Updates

If you have updates or corrections on voter-verified paper record legislation, please let us know.