Georgia’s QR codes for counting votes will remain for midterms after lawmakers vote to delay a fix
The measure keeps QR code tallying for the midterms and sets a 0.5% threshold for hand recounts in close statewide races.
- On Tuesday, the Georgia House and Senate passed Senate Bill 3EX, extending QR code ballot usage until January 2028 while mandating hand recounts for statewide races decided by 0.5% or less.
- Gov. Brian Kemp called a special session to address an expiring July 1 deadline after lawmakers failed to appropriate roughly $66 million needed to replace the current QR code voting equipment before the midterms.
- Legislation sponsored by Sylvania Republican Sen. Max Burns creates an advisory committee tasked with recommending a new voting system by January 31, 2027, and grants election officials 17 days to complete mandatory hand recounts.
- Senate Minority Whip Kim Jackson, a Stone Mountain Democrat, argued hand counts are "slower, more expensive and more prone to human error," warning the process could delay certification and foster election denialism.
- State lawmakers are now responsible for funding and implementing the new uniform voting system for the 2028 election cycle, following the bill's expected signature by Kemp.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Georgia lawmakers kick the can down the road again
The 2026 special session of the Georgia General Assembly may be remembered more for what did not happen than for what did. Gov. Brian Kemp called lawmakers back to the Capitol mainly to complete work they had left unfinished during their regular session last winter and spring. They had failed to address a looming deadline of their own making: had they gone home Tuesday without addressing their own July 1 prohibition on the use of QR codes in the…
Georgia's questionable election system is here to stay for the midterms
As an important deadline approaches for Georgia to fix problems with its election system, a special legislative session has come to a close. Yet the solution the legislature came to has left a potential flaw on the table for the upcoming midterms. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp called a special session last week to resolve a looming issue with the state's election system, which currently uses QR codes to tabulate election results. The QR code system…
Georgia lawmakers delay a major change to the state’s voting system
Georgia lawmakers voted Tuesday to extend a self-imposed deadline to implement a new voting system for this fall’s midterm elections days before it was set to fall out of compliance with state election code
Georgia Legislature Extends Deadline for Eliminating Touchscreen Voting Machines, Puts Off Re-redistricting #ELB
AJC: The Georgia Legislature on Tuesday resolved an elections mess of its own making, voting to continue using a touchscreen voting system for the midterm elections despised by President Donald Trump and his allies. The bill was the only major… Continue reading The post Georgia Legislature Extends Deadline for Eliminating Touchscreen Voting Machines, Puts Off Re-redistricting appeared first on Election Law Blog.
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