Shift to Manual Ballot Marking in Collin County May Set Precedent at a National Level
In a significant move towards enhancing election security, Collin County, Texas, has decided to switch back to using hand-marked paper ballots for voting. This change was initiated in June and follows advice from the Texas Secretary of State's office and compliance with an executive order from President Donald Trump, issued in 2020.
The executive order directs the Federal Election Assistance Commission to recommend states ban barcodes on ballots except when needed to assist voters with disabilities. Collin County's decision to adopt hand-marked paper ballots primarily aims to comply with this order, as electronic ballot-marking devices and the use of barcodes or QR codes for counting could potentially be manipulated.
Advocates, including local conservative groups like Citizens Defending Freedom, view this change as a significant step towards ensuring election security by using a more transparent and verifiable voting method. Hand-marked paper ballots provide a physical paper trail that is directly verifiable by voters and election officials, reducing the risk associated with electronic voting machines and the use of barcodes or QR codes.
However, the switch comes with challenges. Implementing hand-marked paper ballots in Collin County is estimated to cost about $2.3 million. Election officials face a tight timeline to procure new equipment, update training programs, and run public education campaigns. The process is resource-intensive and may initially complicate logistics due to the transition from electronic systems.
Despite these challenges, proponents argue that the benefits outweigh the costs. Hand-marked paper ballots are considered more secure and help boost voter confidence in the election's integrity. For instance, Debbie Lindstrom, the Texas elections director of Citizens Defending Freedom, called hand-marked ballots "the gold standard in election security."
The switch to hand-marked paper ballots is not unique to Collin County. Several other counties in Texas, including Williamson County, Cameron County, Bastrop County, and Denton County, have recently changed their voting methods, following Collin County's lead and moving to hand-marked ballots.
While the Election Assistance Commission is yet to finalize any recommendations based on the executive order, the commission's Technical Guidelines Committee has expressed concern about the order's call for the commission to decertify equipment that uses barcodes.
In Collin County, the switch to hand-marked paper ballots is expected to increase voter confidence in the election's integrity. Scanners for the hand-marked paper ballots won't accept ballots with errors and will prompt voters to correct them, further enhancing the voting process's transparency and accuracy.
The county won't have to pay for maintenance on the ballot-marking machines this year, saving money. In addition, Collin County was praised for its election management in a 2020 general election audit by the Texas Secretary of State's Office, further emphasizing the county's commitment to maintaining election integrity.
However, not everyone is in favour of the change. Members of the League of Women Voters of Collin County have warned of potential long lines and distrust in elections. The issue of the executive order, which asks the Election Assistance Commission to require voters to provide proof of citizenship, is facing challenges in court.
In conclusion, Collin County's decision to switch to hand-marked paper ballots reflects efforts to enhance election security in response to federal directives and local political pressure, trading some efficiency and increased costs for perceived improvements in election integrity and voter confidence.
- The switch to hand-marked paper ballots in Collin County, Texas, is a response to a 2020 executive order from President Trump, which directs the Federal Election Assistance Commission to recommend states ban barcodes on ballots.
- Proponents of the change, such as local conservative groups and advocates, argue that hand-marked paper ballots provide a more secure and verifiable voting method compared to electronic voting machines and the use of barcodes or QR codes.
- The adoption of hand-marked paper ballots in Collin County is expected to improve election security and boost voter confidence, with critics raising concerns about potential long lines and disruption of the voting process.
- The decision to switch to hand-marked paper ballots is not isolated, as several other Texas counties have followed Collin County's lead in making similar transitions for enhanced election security.
