(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Ballot tracking system" means the system described in this section to track and confirm the status of trackable ballots.
(b) "Change in the status" includes:
(i) when a trackable ballot is mailed to a voter;
(ii) when an election official receives a voted trackable ballot; and
(iii) when a voted trackable ballot is counted.
(c) "Trackable ballot" means a manual ballot that is:
(i) mailed to a voter in accordance with Section 20A-3a-202;
(ii) cast at a polling place in accordance with Section 20A-3a-203;
(iii) returned to a polling place in accordance with Section 20A-3a-204;
(iv) returned to a ballot drop box in accordance with Section 20A-3a-204;
(v) returned to an election officer's office in accordance with Section 20A-3a-204; or
(vi) returned by mail in accordance with Section 20A-3a-401.
(d) "Voter registration database" means the database, as defined in Section 20A-2-501.
(2) The lieutenant governor shall operate and maintain a statewide or locally based system to track and confirm when there is a change in the status of a trackable ballot.
(3) If a voter elects to receive electronic notifications regarding the status of the voter's trackable ballot, the ballot tracking system shall, when there is a change in the status of the voter's trackable ballot:
(a) send a text message notification to the voter if the voter's information in the voter registration database includes a mobile telephone number;
(b) send an email notification to the voter if the voter's information in the voter registration database includes an email address; and
(c) send a notification by another electronic means directed by the lieutenant governor.
(4) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that the ballot tracking system and the state-provided website described in Section 20A-7-801 automatically share appropriate information to ensure that a voter is able to confirm the status of the voter's trackable ballot via the state-provided website free of charge.
(5) The ballot tracking system shall include a toll-free telephone number or other offline method by which a voter can confirm the status of the voter's trackable ballot.
(6) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that the ballot tracking system:
(a) is secure from unauthorized use by employing data encryption or other security measures; and
(b) is only used for the purposes described in this section.