Voter-verifiable paper trail

Alabama Code § 17-2-4(b)(2)a explicitly mandates that voting systems produce a permanent paper record with manual audit capacity. This permanent paper record is available as an official record for recounts, satisfying the requirement for a voter-verifiable paper trail.

“The voting system shall produce a permanent paper record with a manual audit capacity for such system.”

The statute explicitly requires that a paper record of electronically generated ballots be provided and that voters can review and correct it at the time of casting. This creates a voter-verifiable paper trail requirement that satisfies the criterion.

“The director shall provide for a paper record of each electronically generated ballot that can be reviewed and corrected by the voter at the time the vote is cast”

The section mandates that political parties must submit paper ballot models for official approval at least 30 days before elections. The detailed specifications for printed paper ballots (dimensions, materials, content, and authentication by the electoral authority) establish a legally required voter-verifiable paper trail, as the ballots themselves serve as the official voting record.

Arizona A.R.S. § 16-444(4) defines the 'electronic voting system' as explicitly requiring votes to be recorded on a paper ballot by marking. This establishes a voter-verifiable paper trail as a legal requirement for electronic voting systems used in Arizona.

“a system in which votes are recorded on a paper ballot by means of marking, and such votes are subsequently counted and tabulated by vote tabulating equipment”

Section 7-4-121(a)(2)(D) explicitly requires the State Board of Election Commissioners to conduct post-election audits using the voter-verified paper audit trail, establishing a legal requirement for this verification mechanism in the audit process.

“Conduct the audit by using the voter-verified paper audit trail”

Article 59 codifies the ballot-paper specification: 'The sample of the ballot paper shall be established by the relevant electoral commission in such a way as to ensure secrecy of voting.' Combined with Article 61 (paper-ballot storage in safe), Article 64 (sealed-box voting), Article 68 (open paper-ballot count), Armenia mandates voter-marked paper ballots as the only voting medium.

This section mandates that only official ballots (amtliche Stimmzettel) provided by the election officer can be used for voting. By requiring hand-marked official paper ballots as the sole means of voting, the statute establishes a voter-verifiable paper trail, as the voter physically handles and marks the official ballot paper.

“Zur Stimmabgabe darf nur der vom Wahlleiter gleichzeitig mit dem Wahlkuvert dem Wähler übergebene amtliche Stimmzettel verwendet werden.”

The section establishes a paper ballot system where ballots are counted and tracked through documented procedures, with all counts recorded in official minutes. This creates a voter-verifiable paper trail requirement through the mandatory use of physical ballots and official documentation of results.

“Les bulletins de chaque catégorie sont comptés successivement par deux membres du bureau.”

The section explicitly requires 'official ballots' (cédulas oficiais) as a mandatory component of election materials. Official ballots constitute a paper-based voter-verifiable record, as they are hand-marked by voters and provide a tangible, verifiable paper trail of the vote cast.

“cédulas oficiais”

The section mandates that voting is conducted with general paper ballots ('хартиени бюлетини'), which are further described as white ballots made of solid opaque paper with sequential numbers and security features. This establishes a legal requirement for paper ballots as the voting method, thereby creating a voter-verifiable paper trail.

“Гласуването се извършва с общи хартиени бюлетини”

Cal. Elec. Code § 19270(a) prohibits SOS certification of any DRE voting system without an accessible VVPAT. § 19273 makes the VVPAT the official record. § 19274 ensures durable paper for the retention period. Comprehensive voter-verifiable-paper mandate.

“The Secretary of State shall not certify or conditionally approve a direct recording electronic voting system unless the system includes an accessible voter verified paper audit trail.”

The section mandates that electors mark ballots by hand using a cross or other mark, creating a hand-marked paper record. This satisfies the criterion for voter-verifiable paper trail as it requires a physical, voter-marked paper ballot that serves as the verifiable record.

“mark the ballot with a cross or other mark in the circular space opposite the name of the candidate of his or her choice”

The statute explicitly mandates that village administrative archives must include election documents and ballots (选举文件和选票), establishing a legal requirement for maintaining paper records of elections. This requirement for preserved ballots constitutes a voter-verifiable paper trail.

“村 务 档 案 包 括：选 举 文 件 和 选 票”

The statute explicitly mandates that voting systems must produce a voter-verifiable paper record for all primary, general, coordinated, and congressional district vacancy elections in Colorado beginning January 1, 2010. It further requires that electors have the opportunity to inspect and verify the record in private before casting their vote, directly satisfying the criterion.

The statute explicitly requires direct recording electronic voting tabulators to produce 'individual, permanent, voter-verified, paper records contemporaneously produced' and mandates manual tallies of these records during recanvasses. This establishes a legal requirement for voter-verifiable paper records.

“conduct a manual tally of the individual, permanent, voter-verified, paper records contemporaneously produced by each direct recording electronic voting tabulator”

The section requires voters unable to visit polling stations due to illness or disability to fold their marked ballot paper, place it in a special envelope, and seal it. This creates a voter-verifiable paper trail by mandating that the voter personally handles and verifies their marked ballot before it is placed in the ballot box.

“Birač iz stavka 2. ovoga članka dužan je najmanje jedanput presaviti glasački listić na kojem je glasovao, staviti ga u posebnu omotnicu i zatvoriti je.”

The section mandates that voters place a marked paper ballot (hlasovací lístek) into an official envelope, with voting accomplished by hand-marking (circling ordinal numbers of candidates). This establishes a legal requirement for a hand-marked paper ballot, which constitutes a voter-verifiable paper trail.

“Volič vloží do úřední obálky 1 hlasovací lístek. Na hlasovacím lístku, který vkládá do úřední obálky, může zakroužkováním pořadového čísla nejvýše u 4 kandidátů uvedených na témže hlasovacím lístku vyznačit, kterému z kandidátů dává přednost.”

§ 48 codifies that 'voting takes place in the polling booth, where only the voter may be present. On the ballot paper the voter places a cross next to a party name or candidate name.' § 69 codifies ballot-validity grounds (all referring to paper ballots). § 43 codifies that the election commission provides paper ballot papers. § 101 codifies result-establishment based on paper ballots. Denmark's regime is exclusively paper.

Estonia's polling-place and advance voting use hand-marked paper ballots deposited in sealed ballot boxes and hand-counted by voting-district committees (§ 57) — the paper ballot is the voter-verifiable record. (Electronically cast votes are the separate i-voting channel.)

“A voting district committee opens the ballot boxes after the close of voting.”

§ 51 codifies that the ballot 'used in elections must be printed on white paper' — Finland's regime is exclusively paper, with a prescribed ballot form that 'must safeguard the preservation of ballot secrecy.' § 85 codifies paper-ballot invalidity grounds. § 82 codifies small-precinct paper ballots. § 78 codifies hand-counting of paper ballots. Voter-verifiable paper-trail regime fully codified.

§ 101.56075 mandates voter-verifiable paper output for all Florida voting. § 97.021 reinforces the definitional framework. Among the strongest VVPAT mandates of any jurisdiction in the atlas.

“all voting must be by marksense ballot, using a marking device or a voter interface device that produces a voter-verifiable paper output”

§ 21-2-334 codifies paper-ballot fallback when voting machines are impracticable. § 21-2-281 codifies parallel. Georgia's statewide regime since 2020 uses Dominion ICX BMDs that produce printed paper ballots scanned by optical scanners — voter-verifiable paper trail exists per § 21-2-300 ('uniform system') in conjunction with § 21-2-379.1 (DRE secrecy + paper-record requirements).

“paper ballots shall be printed for such candidates, offices, or questions, and the primary or election shall be conducted by the poll officers, and the ballots shall be counted and return thereof made in the manner required by law”

This section explicitly requires voters to personally mark (kennzeichnet persönlich) the ballot and place it in an official envelope, creating a hand-marked paper ballot as a voter-verifiable record. The ballot then serves as the physical record of the voter's choices through the entire chain of custody.

“Wer durch Briefwahl wählt, kennzeichnet persönlich den Stimmzettel, legt ihn in den amtlichen Stimmzettelumschlag und verschließt diesen, unterzeichnet die auf dem Wahlschein vorgedruckte Versicherung an Eides statt zur Briefwahl”

The section mandates that voters fill out ballots by hand by marking with a cross, creating a hand-marked paper record. The statute further requires voters to fold the ballot before placing it in the ballot box (Stk. 9), and provides for ballot replacement if filled out incorrectly (Stk. 11), all of which preserve the integrity of the paper trail. This constitutes a legally required voter-verifiable paper record.

Hawaii Revised Statutes § 16-42(a) explicitly requires that electronic voting systems generate a paper ballot or voter-verifiable paper audit trail that voters can inspect and correct before casting their vote, and mandates retention of these records as the definitive vote record. This directly satisfies the criterion for a legally required voter-verifiable paper trail.

“No electronic voting system shall be used in any election unless it generates a paper ballot or voter verifiable paper audit trail that may be inspected and corrected by the voter before the vote is cast, and unless every paper ballot or voter verifiable paper audit trail is retained as the definitive record of the vote cast.”

This section requires voters to use physical ballot papers that they mark themselves according to the Act's prescribed method, creating a hand-marked paper record. The requirement that voters handle, fold, and place the ballot paper themselves, combined with the prescribed marking procedures, establishes a voter-verifiable paper trail as the core voting mechanism.

The statute explicitly requires that all direct recording electronic voting devices used after 2004 must have a voter verifiable paper audit trail. This mandates a voter-verifiable paper record for electronic voting machines, directly satisfying the criterion.

“For all elections conducted after 2004, no direct recording electronic voting device shall be used unless the direct recording electronic voting device has a voter verifiable paper audit trail.”

The statute mandates that votes be cast by marking paper ballots, which creates a voter-verifiable paper record. The paper ballots are the official record that is counted by automatic tabulating equipment, satisfying the requirement for a hand-marked paper trail.

Section 82(6) explicitly requires the special voter to record their vote upon a ballot paper in secret, creating a hand-marked paper record. This satisfies the criterion for a voter-verifiable paper trail, as the voter physically marks the ballot paper themselves, creating a tangible record they can verify.

“The special voter shall thereupon record in secret his vote upon the ballot paper and, when he has so recorded his vote, shall fold the ballot paper so that his vote is concealed”

The statute explicitly requires all voting systems to use voter-verified paper ballots, with provision for voter inspection and verification before casting. It further mandates that paper ballots serve as the official ballot for audits and recounts, directly satisfying the criterion for a legally required voter-verifiable paper trail.

“All voting systems used for elections in this state held on or after January 1, 2024, shall require the use of an individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballot with a distinctive watermark established by the secretary of state.”

KRS 117.125 requires every approved voting system to: (12) 'provide each voter an opportunity to verify votes recorded on the permanent paper ballot... by producing a voter-verified paper audit trail'; (13) 'use an individual, discrete, permanent, paper ballot cast by the voter for tabulating purposes'; and (14) 'preserve the paper ballot as an official record available for use in any audit or recount.' KRS 117.001(26) defines the VVPAT in detail. A voter-verifiable paper trail is mandated.

“Provide each voter an opportunity to verify votes recorded on the permanent paper ballot, either visually or using assistive voting technology, by producing a voter-verified paper audit trail”

Latvia votes exclusively on paper — the voter marks a paper ballot paper and seals it in a ballot envelope, and the count opens each envelope and examines the ballot papers by hand (§ 32 of the Saeima Election Law). The hand-marked paper ballot is the voter-verifiable record.

“the envelope contains one ballot paper of the relevant”

Lithuania votes by paper ballot — § 55 codifies the Central Electoral Committee's role in establishing the ballot-paper specimens, and § 5 of the Seimas Election Law mandates secret-ballot voting on paper.

“specimens and forms of voter certificates, ballot papers, ballot paper envelopes and covering envelopes for voting by post”

Louisiana R.S. 18:1366(1) explicitly mandates that any new voting system procured by the secretary of state must produce an auditable voter-verified paper record. This directly satisfies the criterion requiring a legally mandated voter-verifiable paper trail.

“The voting system shall produce an auditable voter-verified paper record.”

The section mandates that each polling station must count physical paper ballots (bulletins) from the ballot box, establishing a requirement for hand-marked paper ballots as the voting medium and creating a verifiable paper trail through the counting process described in the statute.

“Chaque bureau électoral compte, sans les déplier, les bulletins contenus dans l'urne.”

Article 120 establishes that voting is expressed through a unique paper ballot, which constitutes a hand-marked paper record that voters can physically verify. This directly satisfies the requirement for a voter-verifiable paper trail by mandating the use of paper ballots as the voting mechanism.

“Le vote est exprimé au moyen de bulletin unique.”

The statute requires that ballot papers remain clearly visible to parties, candidates, and agents at all times, which establishes a requirement for voter-verifiable paper records (physical ballot papers) that can be observed and inspected by election observers. This visibility requirement is fundamental to creating a verifiable paper trail that enables independent verification of voting integrity.

“The pigeon hole and ballot papers must at all times be clearly visible by parties, candidates and agents.”

The statute explicitly requires preservation and use of voter-verifiable paper records in recounts, mandating that a local board preserve the voter-verifiable paper record corresponding to each duplicate ballot and permitting manual recount of these records. This establishes a legal requirement for voter-verifiable paper records to exist and be maintained.

“the petitioner shall select the method for conducting the recount. (2) The petitioner may select only one of the following methods: (i) rescanning the ballots using: 1. the same vote tabulating equipment that was used in the election; or 2. alternative vote tabulating equipment, if alternative equipment is available and its use is feasible, as determined by the State Board; (ii) a manual recount of voter–verifiable paper records”

The section establishes that physical paper ballots (boletas) are used in the electoral process and must be extracted, counted, classified, and recorded in official tally documents. The requirement that ballots be shown to present observers and counted multiple times by different scrutineers creates a voter-verifiable paper trail with multiple checkpoints and witnesses.

The statute explicitly mandates the use of paper ballots with specific identification and numbering requirements. This establishes a voter-verifiable paper trail through hand-marked paper ballots, which serves as a physical record that voters can verify their selections upon.

§ 206.80(7) codifies that an electronic voting system may not be employed unless it 'provides every voter an opportunity to verify votes recorded on the permanent paper ballot… produces an individual, discrete, permanent, paper ballot cast by the voter, and preserves the paper ballot.' § 206.61 codifies paper-ballot provision. § 206.86 codifies counting of paper ballot cards. Comprehensive voter-verifiable paper-trail mandate codified.

“provides every voter an opportunity to verify votes recorded on the permanent paper ballot, either visually or using assistive voting technology, and to change votes or correct any error before the voter's ballot is cast and counted, produces an individual, discrete, permanent, paper ballot cast by the voter, and preserves the paper ba”

The section defines electronic voting systems as requiring votes to be recorded on a paper ballot by marking, which creates a voter-verifiable paper trail. This establishes that the voting system must produce a hand-marked paper record that voters can verify.

The statute mandates that voters must physically mark a paper ballot by affixing a stamp, creating a hand-marked paper record. This constitutes a voter-verifiable paper trail as voters create and can visually verify the paper record before depositing it in the ballot box.

Montana votes on hand-marked paper ballots — § 13-13-116 governs delivery and marking of the paper ballot, and § 13-17-103(1)(k) bars approval of any voting system that does not use a paper ballot allowing votes to be manually counted.

“Before delivering a paper ballot to an elector, the election judges shall”

The section mandates that paper ballots (stembiljetten) are collected, grouped by validity status, sealed in packages, and stored with verification information. This establishes a voter-verifiable paper trail requirement, as physical paper ballots form the basis of vote recording and verification in Dutch elections.

“Vervolgens worden de stembiljetten met een blanco stem en de ongeldig verklaarde stembiljetten in pakken gedaan, die worden verzegeld. Op deze pakken wordt vermeld: a. de naam van de provincie; b. het aantal stembiljetten dat het pak bevat. 3 Daarop worden de geldige stembiljetten, lijstgewijs gerangschikt, in een pak gedaan, dat wordt verzegeld.”

The statute requires that mechanical recording devices must be capable of providing a paper record of each ballot voted, which constitutes a voter-verifiable paper trail. Subsection 2 further mandates that this paper record must be printed and made available for manual audit, establishing the legal requirement for a paper record in electronic voting systems.

The statute mandates that all elections use paper ballots, which directly establishes a paper trail requirement. While the statute does not explicitly use the term 'voter-verifiable,' paper ballots are by their nature voter-verifiable records—voters mark them directly and can observe their vote recorded on the physical ballot.

“all elections shall be conducted using paper ballots in accordance with this title”

The statute explicitly requires that each voting machine produce an individual permanent paper record that is made available for inspection and verification by the voter at the time of casting, and that this voter-verified paper record serves as the official tally in any recount. This satisfies the criterion for a legally required voter-verifiable paper trail.

“By January 1, 2009, each voting machine shall produce an individual permanent paper record for each vote cast, which shall be made available for inspection and verification by the voter at the time the vote is cast”

The statute explicitly requires voters to mark and prepare paper ballots and feed them into an electronic vote tabulator, establishing that a paper ballot record exists. The requirement that ballots not be shown before tabulation, combined with the mandatory use of paper ballots, creates a voter-verifiable paper trail, as voters mark their own ballots and can verify their contents before feeding them into the tabulator.

§ 7-202(e) codifies voter-verifiable independent verification of selected votes. § 9-211 audits 'voter verifiable audit records,' codifying paper-trail existence. § 9-110 codifies hand canvass of unscanned paper ballots. NY's regime is paper-marked (or BMD-printed) + optical scan statewide.

“provide the voter an opportunity to privately and independently verify votes selected and the ability to privately and independently change such votes or correct any error before the ballot is cast and counted;”

North Carolina law explicitly requires that all certified voting systems must generate a paper ballot as a backup means of counting votes. Additionally, for DRE systems specifically, the statute mandates that the paper ballot be viewable by the voter before the vote is cast electronically, allowing the voter to verify the record. This satisfies the requirement for a voter-verifiable paper trail.

“The State Board may certify voting systems only if they meet the requirements set forth in this section and only if they generate a paper ballot which provides a backup means of counting the vote that the voter casts.”

§ 16.1-06-12(1) defines 'ballot' explicitly as 'a paper ballot from which the votes for candidates and questions are tabulated by hand or by a voting system' — paper-only regime statutorily mandated. § 16.1-13-22 codifies delivery of paper ballot to elector. § 16.1-13-25 codifies write-in on paper ballot. Voter-verifiable paper-trail regime fully codified.

“"Ballot" means a paper ballot from which the votes for candidates and questions are tabulated by hand or by a voting system. The term includes the digital image of a marked ballot captured by a voting system.”

§ 7-5 codifies that the vote-receiver stamps the ballot, voter places the ballot in an urn. Norway uses paper ballots exclusively; the entire voting regime is voter-verifiable paper. § 10-5 codifies double counting of paper ballots. § 5-13 codifies state-printed paper ballots. Paper-trail mandate codified by the entire structure of the Act.

The section mandates that voter-verified paper audit trails must be created and preserved for direct recording electronic voting machines, establishing them as the official ballots for recounts. This requirement ensures a voter-verifiable paper record exists for all such machines.

The statute explicitly mandates that all ballots must be printed on paper, which creates a voter-verifiable paper trail for election verification and auditing purposes. This requirement directly satisfies the criterion for a legally required voter-verifiable paper record.

ORS § 246.560(1)(h) explicitly requires that voting machines contain a device that duplicates votes onto a paper record copy. Additionally, subsection (1)(i) requires a device allowing each elector to view their paper record copy, establishing a voter-verifiable paper trail as a mandatory feature of approved voting equipment.

Article 40 § 1 establishes that voting must be conducted using official paper ballots (kart do głosowania), which are hand-marked paper ballots that serve as a voter-verifiable paper trail. This requirement directly satisfies the criterion for a voter-verifiable paper record.

“Głosowanie odbywa się przy pomocy urzędowych kart do głosowania.”

The statute explicitly requires that each voter personally mark a paper ballot (boletim de voto) with a cross in a voting booth, creating a hand-marked paper record. This satisfies the criterion for a voter-verifiable paper trail as the voter directly marks and handles the physical ballot.

“o eleitor entra na câmara de voto situada na assembleia e aí, sozinho, marca uma cruz no quadrado respectivo da lista em que vota e dobra o boletim em quatro”

The section mandates that voting ballots (buletine de vot) are physically printed with standardized specifications for all voters in an electoral district. This establishes a requirement for paper ballots, which constitute a voter-verifiable paper trail. The provision for ballot printing with specific formatting ensures that physical paper records exist for voter verification.

“buletinele de vot sunt imprimate cu litere de aceeaşi mărime, aceleaşi caractere şi aceeaşi cerneală, într-un număr egal cu al alegătorilor înscrişi în listele electorale, cu un plus de 10%”

Article 64 (Voting Procedure) establishes the foundational paper-ballot regime: voters cast ballots at polling stations, ballots placed in sealed ballot boxes. Article 63 (in 7.2 cands) details ballot specifications. Russia uses hand-marked paper ballots in the standard regime; KOIB scanners produce paper records; DEG (remote electronic) is the exception.

Section 47 mandates that ballot papers (physical paper records) be counted and compared against the number issued, establishing a voter-verifiable paper trail as the mechanism for vote counting. The statute requires handling of actual ballot papers throughout the counting process, confirming that hand-marked paper ballots are the legally required voting medium.

§ 12-15-14 codifies counting boards in 'paper ballot precincts' — explicit paper-ballot regime. § 12-15-14.1 codifies counting boards in smaller paper-ballot precincts. § 12-16-2 codifies paper-ballot quality + printing specifications: 'All official ballots shall be printed on good quality bond paper, in black ink, and in the English language.' § 12-17B-2 (not in FTS top-5 for this datapoint) codifies that BMDs may not save or tabulate votes (paper-trail preserved). SD regime is paper-only.

This section requires that ballot papers be preserved (with exceptions for invalid or disputed ones) and archived with the minutes, creating a paper trail that can be verified. The section also mandates public announcement of detailed results and preservation of ballots for scrutiny, establishing a voter-verifiable paper record requirement.

“Las papeletas extraídas de las urnas se destruirán en presencia de los concurrentes con excepción de aquellas a las que se hubiera negado validez o que hubieran sido objeto de alguna reclamación, las cuales se unirán al acta y se archivarán con ella”

6 kap. 4 § codifies that 'ballots shall be size A6 (105×148 mm). They shall be made of paper of the same quality for all ballots. All ballots for a particular election shall have the same color.' 7 kap. 2 § codifies the paper-ballot voting procedure (ballot in envelope, sealed). 6 kap. 2 § codifies ballot content. Sweden's regime is exclusively paper.

“Valsedlar skall ha storleken A 6 (105¥148 millimeter). De skall vara av papper som har samma kvalitet för samtliga valsedlar.”

The statute explicitly requires and mandates the use of voter-verified paper ballots in the context of automatic audits. By requiring mandatory audits of voter-verified paper ballots and specifying procedures for handling and verifying them, the law establishes that voter-verifiable paper records are legally required as part of Tennessee's election system.

“conduct automatic mandatory audits of the voter-verified paper ballots cast for the president of the United States in a presidential election and the governor in a gubernatorial election”

§ 129.003 (Paper Audit Trail Required) defines an 'auditable voting system' as one that 'uses, creates, or displays a paper record that may be read by the voter' and bars DRE-based voting systems unless they are auditable; the paper record is the official record for any recount or contest. Voter-verifiable paper trail codified.

“uses, creates, or displays a paper record that may be read by the voter”

Law 298 Article 78 mandates that watermarked-paper combined ballots are used in presidential, parliamentary, provincial council, municipal council, and mayoral elections. Turkey's primary voting method is hand-marked paper ballots cast into transparent sealable boxes — meeting the voter-verifiable-paper-record criterion. Reinforced by Article 26 of Law 2839 (party ballot preparation per Art 14 of Law 298), Article 18 of Law 2972 (local elections use combined ballots per Law 298), Article 102 (paper-ballot validity).

This section requires the use of physical ballot papers that are counted and recorded by the returning officer in the presence of counting agents, establishing a voter-verifiable paper trail. The entire paragraph structure emphasizes paper ballots as the fundamental voting mechanism, with strict procedural requirements for their handling, verification, and security, which inherently provides a voter-verifiable paper record.

“The returning officer shall— a in the presence of the counting agents open each ballot box and count and record the number of ballot papers in it”

The statute explicitly requires that voting systems produce a permanent paper record with manual audit capacity, and specifies that this paper record shall be available as an official record for any recount. This directly establishes a voter-verifiable paper trail requirement.

“The voting system shall produce a permanent paper record with a manual audit capacity for such system.”

The statute explicitly requires voting equipment to produce a permanent paper record that must be available for voter inspection before leaving the polling place and available as an official record for recounts. This directly satisfies the voter-verifiable paper trail requirement, ensuring voters can verify their selections were recorded correctly.

§ 2481 ('Printed ballots required') codifies that, except for floor voice votes, 'no voting shall occur in any local, primary, or general election that does not use printed ballots.' Vermont votes on hand-marked printed paper ballots — hand-counted or scanned by a vote tabulator that retains the paper ballot (§ 2499). A voter-verifiable paper ballot is mandated.

“no voting shall occur in any local, primary, or general election that does not use printed ballots”

This section mandates the use of paper ballots that voters handle directly and mark, creating a voter-verifiable paper trail. The statute requires voters to fold paper ballots with candidate names and hand them to election officers for deposit, establishing a physical paper record that voters can verify before submission.

“The qualified voter shall fold each paper ballot with the names of the candidates and questions on the inside and hand the folded ballot to the appropriate officer of election. The officer shall place the ballot in the ballot container without any inspection except to assure himself that only a single ballot has been tendered and that the ballot is a genuine ballot.”

The statute explicitly requires all direct recording electronic voting devices to produce a paper record that voters may accept or reject, and mandates that this record be human-readable without an interface. This directly satisfies the requirement for a voter-verifiable paper trail.

“all direct recording electronic voting devices must produce a paper record of each vote that may be accepted or rejected by the voter before finalizing his or her vote”

The statute explicitly requires voter-verified paper ballots to be used in elections, mandating manual counting of these ballots in at least 3% of precincts during the canvass and allowing them to be used for recounts. This establishes a legal requirement for a voter-verifiable paper trail as part of the election process.

“the voter-verified paper ballots are to be counted manually”

Wis. Stat. § 5.77 codifies that paper-ballot procedures apply when electronic systems use paper ballots distributed to electors. § 5.82 codifies write-in paper-ballot provisions. § 5.655 codifies consolidated paper-ballot use. § 5.76 codifies adoption/experimentation/discontinuance of electronic systems — Wisconsin's regime is paper-as-primary with optional automatic tabulating equipment.

This section statutorily requires voters to use paper ballots that they mark themselves, creating a hand-marked paper ballot trail that is voter-verifiable by design. The requirement that voters mark and then place the paper ballot ensures a physical record each voter can verify before submission.

“After marking the paper ballot, the voter shall place the ballot in the voting machine.”

10 ILCS 5/24C-1 (purpose) and § 24C-12 (procedures) reference printed/recordable voter actions, but no explicit voter-verifiable-paper-audit-trail (VVPAT) requirement was surfaced. Most precincts use optical-scan paper ballots under Article 24A; Article 24C governs DRE.

The section establishes procedures for handling discarded ballot papers but does not mandate voter-verifiable paper records or hand-marked ballots. It addresses the physical management of discarded papers rather than requiring voters to create or verify a paper trail of their vote. The existence of a ballot paper does not in itself establish a requirement for voter verification.

“a ballot paper has been issued to a voter”

No candidate sections returned by FTS.

The section requires removal and delivery of 'ballot container' and 'media containing election results' but does not explicitly mandate that these constitute voter-verifiable paper records or establish verification procedures. The statute describes procedural steps without defining or requiring VVPAT or hand-marked ballots as a legal requirement.

“the election officers shall remove the ballot container and the media containing the election results from each voting device and deliver them to the Department”

The section permits hand-marked ballots (bulletins manuscrits) as valid for municipal elections in communes under 1,000 inhabitants, which acknowledges paper ballots. However, the criterion requires a legally mandated voter-verifiable paper trail, and this section merely permits hand-marked ballots rather than mandating them as the voting method or VVPAT requirement for electronic systems. The section addresses ballot validity rules but does not establish a requirement for paper verification.

“les bulletins manuscrits sont valides pour l'élection des conseillers municipaux dans les communes de moins de 1 000 habitants”

No candidate sections returned by FTS.

No candidate sections returned by FTS.

The section explicitly defines 'marking device' to include pencils, pens, and certain electronic devices that produce marked optical scan ballots. However, subsection (b) specifically states that a voter-verifiable paper audit trail is NOT a marking device, which suggests the statute distinguishes between marking devices and paper trails rather than requiring voter-verifiable paper records. The section does not mandate or require a voter-verifiable paper audit trail; it merely clarifies what is excluded from the definition of 'marking device.'

“A voter verifiable paper audit trail is not a marking device.”

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 41 addresses voting procedures, personal voting requirements, ballot distribution, and voting accommodations, but does not address technology, voter-verifiable paper records, or VVPATs. The section requires paper ballot-papers and signature confirmations in registers, but does not establish any legal requirement for voter-verifiable paper trails or technology-based verification mechanisms.

The section addresses paper records from voting machines but only as optional ('if the machine is provided with'). It does not mandate that voting machines must have a voter-verifiable paper trail capability, nor does it require hand-marked paper ballots. The provision makes paper records permissible but not legally required, falling short of satisfying a criterion that requires such records to be mandated.

“If the machine is provided with a device for printing or photographing candidate and question counters, it is not necessary to open the door concealing the counters.”

The statute authorizes paper ballots in certain circumstances but does not mandate a voter-verifiable paper trail as a general requirement. It permissively allows paper ballots only when a political party has fewer than 5% enrolled voters, rather than requiring them universally or establishing a clear audit trail requirement.

“the state secretary may provide only paper ballots for a state or presidential primary”

The statute permits the use of paper ballots as a fallback when electronic machines fail, but only as a contingency measure, not as a required voter-verifiable trail for all voting. The language 'may be used' indicates paper ballots are optional and used only when machines cannot be repaired or replaced, rather than mandating a voter-verifiable paper record for all votes cast.

“paper ballots made as nearly as practicable to the official ballot may be used”

The statute establishes that a paper ballot is a valid vote for electronic voting systems, suggesting a paper trail exists. However, the section does not explicitly require voters to verify the paper record before it is cast, nor does it mandate that the paper ballot is the official record of the voter's intent for all voting methods. It addresses paper ballots as an outcome of electronic voting but does not fully establish a voter-verifiable paper trail requirement as a general legal mandate.

“A paper ballot printed to reflect the voter's choices constitutes a valid vote.”

No matching sections in corpus.

The section permits paper ballots as an alternative when electronic systems are impracticable, but it does not legally require a voter-verifiable paper trail in all elections or mandate that paper ballots be hand-marked by voters. The provision is permissive ("may arrange") rather than mandatory, and does not establish a binding requirement for voter-verifiable paper records.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: This section provides definitions for terms used in Rhode Island election law, including 'Computer ballot,' 'Voting equipment,' and 'Vote.' However, it does not mandate or require that voters receive a voter-verifiable paper trail or hand-marked paper ballots. The definitions describe what voting equipment is used but do not establish a legal requirement for voter-verifiable paper records.

No candidate sections returned by FTS.

The statute permits the use of paper ballots as a fallback when electronic vote recorders malfunction, but it does not establish that voter-verifiable paper records are legally required as a standard voting method. The paper ballots are optional contingency measures, not a mandatory voter-verification mechanism tied to electronic voting systems.

“in case such repair or substitution cannot be made, paper ballots, printed or written and of any suitable form, may be used for the taking of votes”

No candidate sections returned by FTS.