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Bill

HB 2659

Requiring that all election audits and recounts be conducted using a hand count of paper ballots.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Samantha Poetter Parshall

Kansas bill mandates hand-counting paper ballots for all election audits and recounts, eliminating machine-assisted vote verification methods statewide.

Died in Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2659

Legislative bill overview

HB 2659 mandates that all election audits and recounts in Kansas must be performed exclusively through hand counting of paper ballots, rather than using electronic scanning or tabulation methods. The bill effectively eliminates machine-assisted vote counting verification processes statewide.

Why is this important

Election verification procedures directly affect public confidence in election integrity and the speed at which results are certified. This requirement would significantly increase the time and cost of conducting audits and recounts, particularly in larger jurisdictions, while potentially affecting how quickly election outcomes can be officially confirmed.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource demands: Hand counting all ballots in large counties could require substantially more poll workers, training, and funding, raising questions about implementation feasibility and municipal budget impacts
  • Speed vs. accuracy trade-off: While proponents argue hand counts eliminate machine errors, critics contend that manual counting introduces fatigue-related human error and delays certification timelines that voters and campaigns depend on
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill's application to "all" audits is unclear—it's uncertain whether this applies to routine post-election audits (typically small statistical samples) or only full recounts, which could affect interpretation of legislative intent

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

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