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Texas officials consider paper backups for voting machines in response to election rigging concerns

November 2, 2016

Texas Governor Greg Abbott and state senator Lois Kolkhorst want to require paper backups to the state's electronic voting machines to improve confidence in the state’s elections, according to The Texas Tribune.

Texas lawmakers have proposed laws requiring paper trails for voting machines for the past decade, some of which call for having a printer in a sealed case attached to the voting machines so voters can check votes against the receipt.

Interest stalled during the 2007 legislative session after it was estimated the printers would cost the state $40 million to $50 million.

Texans have voiced concern about election rigging and voter fraud.  Last week, the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump highlighted reports of voting machines in Texas changing votes for president from voters casting straight-ticket ballots. Election officials have disputed those reports, claiming that alleged instances of "vote flipping" were the result of user error.