House Bill 999 aims to enhance the security and integrity of election ballots in Tennessee by mandating the use of visible secure watermarks on both voting machine ballots and paper ballots, including absentee ballots. The bill amends several sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Sections 2-5-206, 2-5-207, and introduces new sections under Title 2, Chapter 20, which outline the requirements for scanning, posting, and auditing paper ballots. The coordinator of elections is tasked with defining the method and type of watermark, ensuring it is easily discernible for verification purposes. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of quick-response (QR) codes and bar codes for tabulating votes, emphasizing the need for human-readable text.

The legislation also establishes protocols for the scanning and storage of paper ballots, requiring that scanned images be maintained and made available for audits. It mandates that digital images of scanned ballots be posted on the secretary of state's website within a specified timeframe following elections. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to align Tennessee's election processes with best practices observed in other states to bolster voter confidence and election security.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2-5-206(a), 2-5-206, 2-5-207(b)(2), 2-5-207, 2-5-208, 2-5-211, 2-6-202, 2-7-114(c)(1), 2-7-114, 2-9-101(d)(1), 2-9-101, 2-20-104(a)(1), 2-20-104