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Bill

SB 2590

Relating to grounds for recounting paperless electronic voting system ballots.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Judith Zaffirini

SB 2590 establishes grounds for recounting votes cast on paperless electronic voting machines in Texas elections, addressing verification procedures without paper ballot backups.

Referred to State Affairs
#elections--votingsystems(i0270)
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Bill Summary · SB 2590

Legislative bill overview

SB 2590 addresses the procedures and grounds under which paperless electronic voting system ballots can be recounted in Texas elections. The bill establishes criteria that would allow for recounts of ballots cast on electronic voting machines that do not produce a paper trail or permanent record. This legislation aims to clarify when and how such recounts can be initiated and conducted.

Why is this important

Election recounts are critical mechanisms for verifying election accuracy and public confidence in results. For paperless voting systems—which create no independent physical record of votes cast—establishing clear recount procedures is particularly important since officials cannot fall back on paper ballots to verify electronic counts. The procedures defined in this bill directly affect how election disputes in close races would be resolved.

Potential points of contention

  • Feasibility concerns: Critics argue that recounting paperless electronic ballots simply re-runs the same software/hardware that potentially produced errors initially, offering no true verification method unlike paper-based recounts
  • Security and integrity questions: Some election security advocates contend that without paper records, there's no way to detect if electronic systems were compromised or miscalibrated, making recount grounds potentially meaningless
  • Cost and timeline implications: Unclear whether the bill addresses who bears recount costs, how long recounts take, and whether provisions sufficiently expedite or delay election certification timelines

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

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