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Bill

HB 999

Election Laws - As introduced, requires all ballots cast in an election to have a secure watermark; requires the official tabulation count of a ballot scanner to be based on the text or machine mark portion of a ballot; makes certain other changes related to ballots and elections; creates programs for the scanning and auditing of ballots. - Amends TCA Title 2.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Jody Barrett

Tennessee bill requires ballot watermarks and limits scanner counting to printed text/marks while establishing new ballot scanning and auditing programs statewide.

Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 999

Legislative bill overview

HB 999 mandates that all ballots in Tennessee elections include secure watermarks and requires ballot scanners to count ballots based on printed text or machine marks rather than other ballot features. The bill also establishes new programs for ballot scanning and auditing procedures, amending Tennessee's election code.

Why is this important

Election security and ballot authentication are high-stakes issues affecting voter confidence and election integrity. How ballots are counted and verified directly impacts whether election results are trusted by the public and whether irregularities can be detected and remedied.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and implementation burden: Requiring watermarks on all ballots and establishing new scanning/auditing programs represents significant infrastructure investment for counties, with unclear funding mechanisms
  • Technical specificity concerns: Mandating scanners count only "text or machine mark" portions could create compatibility issues with existing voting equipment and may inadvertently exclude legitimate ballot markings
  • Audit program scope undefined: The bill references "programs for scanning and auditing" without detailed specifications, leaving questions about what triggers audits, who conducts them, and what happens if discrepancies emerge

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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