A Virginia state delegate has introduced legislation that would bar the hand-counting of machine-readable ballots in most circumstances.
Delegate Marcia S. Price introduced HB 968 on January 13 which would prohibit ballots “from being counted by hand for any reason or purpose not specifically authorized by law.”
The legislation would amend the state code to add that, “In ascertaining the vote, the officers of election shall use ballot scanner machines to count machine-readable ballots and shall not count machine-readable ballots by hand for any reason or purpose not specifically authorized for by law.”