NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Legislature passed a law mandating paper ballots last year, but the Secretary of State said it's going to be almost impossible to implement.

Now some lawmakers are speaking out in support of the ballots.

As it stands right now, every Tennessean will cast their vote by optical scan paper balloting in 2010. Almost every county uses electronic voting machines, which provide no paper trail and, many say, can be hacked.

While the optical scan machines can be purchased with federal funds, local counties will have to pay for the ballots.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett said that is a cost counties simply can't afford. In addition, he said there are currently no machines certified that fit the bill.

Attempts to delay paper ballots until 2012 did not pass the Legislature this year.

While Hargett is still pushing for the delay, some lawmakers say 2010 is too crucial of a vote to rely on electronic machines.

Democrats said Hargett is exaggerating about the costs and believe the main goal is to keep paper ballots from ever happening.

Hargett said he fully expects that paper ballots will be implemented during his tenure. He said he is only asking for a delay to make sure that the state makes the changes in the right way.