WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

LC 3471

Require watermarks on ballots

2025 Regular Session

Requires watermarks on ballots to boost security, forcing printers and election officials to adapt and affecting voters, audits, and ballot verification.

(LC) Draft Died in Process
#elections(seealso:ballotissues)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LC 3471

LC 3471 — Require watermarks on ballots

Overview

LC 3471 is a draft bill titled “Require watermarks on ballots,” introduced on December 14, 2024. The bill’s primary stated purpose, based on the title, is to require watermarks on ballots as a security feature. The available information does not include the specific technical or regulatory provisions that would govern watermark design, placement, or verification.

Purpose and Intent

  • To mandate watermarks on ballots as a ballot-security measure.
  • The exact rationale (e.g., counterfeit deterrence, ballot authentication, or other security goals) is not detailed in the summary provided.

Key Provisions (Available Information)

  • The text of the bill is not included in the summary. Therefore, specific provisions such as:
    • watermark design specifications, placement on ballots, and colors or formats
    • standards for verification and handling
    • costs, funding, and vendor requirements
    • compliance timelines and penalties
    • exemptions or applicability to different ballot types (e.g., paper ballots, absentee ballots)
    • integration with existing ballot counting and certification processes are not available here.

Implementation Considerations (Questions Raised)

  • Technical feasibility: What watermark technology would be required, and will it work with current printing and scanning equipment?
  • Costs: Printing, equipment upgrades, and potential vendor contracts for watermark production.
  • Accessibility: Ensuring watermarks do not impede readability or accessibility for voters with disabilities.
  • Verification and security: How watermarks would be authenticated during counting and audits.
  • Recounts and audits: Any impact on post-election audit procedures or recounts.
  • Legal and privacy implications: Any implications for ballot privacy or chain-of-custody standards.

Affected Parties

  • Voters: ballots would bear the watermark, affecting the ballot they cast.
  • Election administrators and county/state election officials: would need to implement watermark requirements and related processes.
  • Ballot printers and vendors: responsible for producing watermark-enabled ballots.
  • Election equipment and software suppliers: potential updates or compatibility considerations for scanners and tabulators.

Procedural History and Timeline

  • 2024-12-14: Drafter Assigned
  • 2024-12-14: Draft On Hold
  • 2025-05-27: Draft Died in Process

Current Status

  • Status: Draft Died in Process (LC). The bill did not progress in its current form and is not advancing in its session. Reintroduction or amendments could occur in the future.

Potential Impact

If enacted, the bill could introduce a new security layer for ballots and require changes across printing, equipment, and administration. However, due to the absence of the bill text, many critical implementation details remain undetermined.

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

Sign in to ask a question.