On March 14, the Georgia legislature passed HB 316, which retains the existing touchscreen vote-counting machines, but which adds printers to each machine, to print out each voter’s choices. The voter is expected to look at his or her printed copy and check that it accurately reflects what the voter did on the touch-screen. Then the voter deposits the paper ballot in a scanner.

In case there is a dispute that the touchscreen machines performed accurately, the paper ballots are then available to check against the touchscreen results.

HB 316 was controversial, because many legislators opposed this idea and wanted to dispense with touchscreen machines, and simply have the voter mark a paper ballot that could then be read electronically. That system is far more common around the nation. The vote in the House was 101-69. In the Senate, it was 35-21.

The bill also changes various procedures for registration purges, and makes other changes. See this story.

Dario Hunter, an announced candidate for the 2020 Green Party presidential nomination, has been fired from his job as a rabbi. His employer was not clear about the reason, but it appears to either relate to his criticism of Israel, or to the fact that he is running for President. See this story.

On the evening of March 14, the New Mexico legislature passed SB 672. It provides for automatic voter registration, in which each adult citizen known to exist is automatically registered. The individual is then informed and is free to decline. Also the bill allows voters to register at the polls on election day. However, no one can change parties during the 28 days before any primary. See this story. Thanks to Rick Lass for this news.