HB2651

THE CONTEXT: The Secretary of State is charged with appointing a committee to investigate and test the various types of vote recording and vote tabulating machines that can be certified for use in federal, state and county elections. The committee submits its recommendations to the Secretary of State who makes the final adoption of which machines will be certified for use in this state.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would prohibit the Secretary of State, beginning in 2029, from certifying a vote recording or tabulating machine used for federal, state and county elections unless 100% of the parts and components are sourced, manufactured and assembled in the United States, exempt vote recording and vote tabulating machines and devices acquired before January 1, 2028, from the requirement in this act, and make technical and conforming changes.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to set a clear legal boundary for voting equipment instead of leaving the conduct unaddressed. It would prohibit the Secretary of State, beginning in 2029, from certifying a vote recording or tabulating machine used for federal, state and county elections unless 100% of the parts and components are sourced, manufactured and assembled in the United States, and would also exempt vote recording and vote tabulating machines and devices acquired before January 1, 2028, from the requirement in this act, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.