Bill Description: Senate Bill 1110 would require ballot-counting machines to use open-source software and to time-stamp paper ballots when they are counted. 

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Does it in any way restrict public access to information related to government activity or otherwise compromise government transparency, accountability, or election integrity? Conversely, does it increase public access to information related to government activity or increase government transparency, accountability, or election integrity?

Senate Bill 1110 would amend four sections of Idaho Code under Title 34, which deals with elections. These changes would include a requirement that, starting in 2027, any "voting machine or vote tally system" used in Idaho must utilize "open-source software."

The bill defines "open-source software" as "software whose programming code is publicly published." The bill would also require county clerks to "post on the county's website a sample ballot and the open-source software used to tally the votes on the ballot. The posting shall note what compiler was used to convert the software to machine language and shall include the machine language."

Additionally, any "vote tally system" used in Idaho would need to be "capable of stamping each ballot counted by the machine with an identifying number and a time stamp, to the nearest one-hundredth of a second, indicating when the ballot was counted by the machine."

The Secretary of State’s office would be instructed to "prepare a request for proposals to manufacturers who can provide voting machines that utilize open-source software whose programming code is publicly published and are capable of stamping each ballot counted by the machine with an identifying number and a time stamp, to the nearest one-hundredth of a second, indicating when the ballot was counted by the machine, as provided in this act." It would also be asked to make a "report to the Legislature not later than January 15, 2024, 2025, and 2026" regarding the progress made toward meeting the 2027 deadline. 

Requiring the use of open-source software rather than proprietary software (such as that used by Dominion Voting Systems) will make Idaho less dependent on commercial entities whose dedication to free and fair elections is not guaranteed. 

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