A Missouri Senate Committee has unanimously passed a measure that prevents elections authorities from storing electronic data on votes cast.

Senator Jay Wasson of Nixa, chairman of the Senate Elections Committee, says he supports the law saying only a paper record can be kept for back-up and verification purposes.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Brian Nieves of Washington, Missouri.

It would also require that all electronic voting machines in Missouri be phased out once they fail mechanically. They would then be replaced by paper ballot marking devices.

The bill now goes to the full Senate for debate.