This bill, HB 270-FN, establishes new requirements for the preservation of external storage devices used in electronic ballot counting. It mandates that these devices be retained until the resolution of any election contest and the exhaustion of all appeals, or for a minimum of 22 months following federal elections and 60 days for non-federal elections, whichever period is longer. The bill introduces provisions that require town clerks to maintain these external storage devices alongside other election materials, while exempting extra devices that were programmed but not used during the election. Additionally, it amends existing laws by replacing references to "memory cards" with "external storage devices," thereby clarifying the terminology used in the context of election materials.

Moreover, the bill enhances the procedures for testing electronic ballot counting devices prior to elections, requiring clerks to document the testing process and ensure all devices pass pre-election tests. It establishes strict protocols for handling seals on counting devices, mandates the maintenance of activity logs, and requires immediate reporting of any tampering or irregularities. While the fiscal impact on municipalities is indeterminable due to potential costs associated with acquiring additional memory cards, the Department of State has indicated that the bill will not affect its operations financially. Overall, the bill aims to bolster the security and reliability of election processes while potentially imposing some costs on local governments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 33-A:3-a
As Amended by the House: 33-A:3-a, 656:42
As Amended by the Senate: 33-A:3-a, 656:42
Version adopted by both bodies: 33-A:3-a, 656:42