>>>Interesting that Texas should allow it. I have never seen a traceable ballot in any of the elections that I've ever participated in. The law may permit it, but doesn't require it.
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>>Actually, as I read it, the law does require traceability, which explains why they write a number from the ballot in the registration book.
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>>Tamar
>
>I'm not sure what the law is.......but I just voted in my first Tx election. After I identified myself and signed the registration book I was offered a choice of four of five ballots. My wife was next in line and she was given her choice from essentially the same group. I don't think they would be able to trace a particular ballot to a particular voter - AND I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT!!!

Here's the relevant piece of the Texas Constitution. It's Article 6, Section 4:

"In all elections by the people, the vote shall be by ballot, and the Legislature shall provide for the numbering of tickets and make such other regulations as may be necessary to detect and punish fraud and preserve the
purity of the ballot box; and the Legislature shall provide by law for the registration of all voters."

I read that as requiring numbering, but I guess you could read it the other way round as permitting it. At least one Texas voter here has already said that his ballot number was written in the registration book.

Tamar