SB177

The amendment shifted the bill from requiring voters to use black ink pens when marking optical scan ballots to instead clarifying that voters may use any marking instrument, while requiring election officials to provide black ink pens to in-person voters and give absentee voters instructions to use black ink pens—and crucially, prohibiting officials from disqualifying ballots marked with other instruments. This substantially WEAKENS the bill's original strict requirement by making black ink pens optional rather than mandatory.

The amendment changes the bill from allowing voters to mark ballots with any pencil or marking instrument to requiring election officials to provide black ink pens and instructing absentee voters to use them, while prohibiting disqualification of ballots marked with other instruments—this **strengthens** ballot standardization while preserving ballot validity.