GOPers ignore election officials’ warnings, leaving Georgia little time for paper ballots switch
Democracy Docket • • nation
Key Points:
- Georgia election officials have less than three months to switch from touchscreen voting machines to paper ballots after the state Senate did not vote on legislation to delay the transition until 2028.
- County officials warn the rushed change could compromise election security, complicate ballot counting, delay results, and cause widespread confusion for voters and administrators.
- The current touchscreen system, which uses QR codes for counting, is set to be banned after July 1 due to a 2024 GOP law, with the new hand-marked paper ballot system required to be in place by then.
- Local election officials and the state House supported a bipartisan bill granting a two-year grace period for the transition, but the Senate, led by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, declined to vote on it during the final legislative session day.
- Election officials also highlight the lack of funding for the switch, training, and security measures, raising concerns about delays and controversies similar to those experienced in the 2020 Fulton County ballot count; bipartisan leaders are considering emergency legislative options.
