California Bill Banning Hand Counting of Election Ballots One Step Away From Becoming Law

AB 969 would require elections with more voters to use state-approved machines, except for when a state of emergency disables electronic voting systems.

A voting center worker handles mail-in ballots in a file photo. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

A bill that would ban the hand counting of ballots in most of California’s future elections passed the state Assembly Sept. 8, and was sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed into law.

Assembly Bill 969, authored by Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz), would require any regularly scheduled election with over 1,000 registered voters or special elections with over 5,000 registered voters to use state-approved machines, according to the bill’s text.