SB655: Relating to ballot security.

Legislative Summary

Tells the SOS to create a database of ballots for each election. Tells the county clerks to add e-copies of each ballot into the database. Requires each ballot to have an ID. Requires the ID to be secret other than to the voter. Allows a voter to view the voter's ballot in the database for 90 days following the election. Allows the county clerks to charge a reasonable fee for the cost of getting a ballot. Tells the county clerks to allow certain persons to watch the ballots being printed and inserted into mailing envelopes. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.4). Directs the Secretary of State to establish and maintain a searchable and publicly accessible database containing a copy of every ballot cast in each election. Requires county clerks to scan and upload to the database each ballot cast prior to tallying the votes. Requires each ballot to be printed with a unique identifier that an elector may use to search the database for an electronic copy of the elector's ballot. Requires a ballot's identifier to be secret except to the elector. Permits an elector to inspect the elector's cast ballot for 90 days following the date of an election. Requires county clerks to store ballots in a manner that makes the ballots readily available to retrieve. Requires county clerks to store ballots in batches and to maintain an index that records where each ballot is stored. Permits county clerks to charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of retrieving a ballot. Requires county clerks to permit authorized persons to watch the printing of ballots and the inserting of ballots in envelopes to be mailed to electors. Applies to primary, general and special elections held on or after January 1, 2027. Becomes operative January 1, 2027.