Overview
- The full Senate passed the measure on Saturday, June 20, moving the ban from July 1, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2028 and clearing it for House consideration.
- The bill creates a nine-member Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee with three appointees each from the governor, House leadership, and Senate leadership to recommend a replacement.
- The committee must report specifications by Jan. 31, 2027, but the Legislature would still have to approve funding, buy equipment, and implement any new system for the 2028 elections.
- Democrats and voting-rights advocates criticized the process for being fast-tracked without public testimony and for offering no guaranteed minority appointments, and an amendment to add minority caucus seats failed.
- County election officials have received mixed guidance about fall options, the Senate added a requirement for hand counts of the top two ballot races before certification, and election administrators face operational uncertainty ahead of November 2026.