Published 4 days ago • loading... • Updated 3 days ago
Georgia election board adopts new rules targeting election mistrust
The board also rejected a QR-code ban after state lawmakers delayed that change until 2028, citing authority concerns and the need for more voter confidence.
On Wednesday, the State Election Board adopted two rules aimed at bolstering confidence in Georgia elections, mandating that tabulation occur directly from a Ballot and requiring all vote consolidations in public.
Lawmakers two years ago adopted a ban on digital barcodes that was to take effect this month, though they recently delayed implementation until 2028, fueling skepticism about whether printed text matches OCR technology data.
Board member Salleigh Grubbs proposed the tabulation rule, arguing Voters need confidence that Ballot papers control Results, while critics complained Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger refused access to his "bunker" on election nights.
The tabulation rule passed 3-1 while the public counting rule passed 3-2, though Board Chairman John Fervier and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr warned the board lacked constitutional authority to adopt the second measure.
Additionally, the board initiated a public comment process on Voter privacy; Grubbs argued the "huge" displays on current voting machines are subject to prying eyes, requiring further action to ensure Ballot secrecy.