Lawmakers will try to find a fix for Georgia's banned vote-counting method

Key Points:

• Georgia lawmakers are convening a special session to address complications from a 2024 law banning the use of QR codes on ballots for official vote counts after July 1, 2026, but no alternative vote-counting method has been established.
• Conflicting guidance from the secretary of state’s office and the State Election Board has created confusion among county election officials about how to conduct upcoming elections, including a special U.S. House election scheduled for July 28.
• The secretary of state recommends continuing to use touchscreen voting machines and tallying votes via human-readable text after scanning QR codes, while the election board, controlled by a Trump-aligned majority, directs counties to use hand-marked paper ballots as a backup if the QR code deadline is not extended.
• Local election officials are awaiting clearer instructions amid the conflicting state guidance, while some candidates in the special election express concern about potential legal challenges and call for extending the QR code use deadline to avoid election disruptions.
• Governor Brian Kemp’s special session aims to resolve these election issues and redraw congressional maps, but lawmakers previously rejected extending the QR code deadline, raising uncertainty about the readiness of election systems for upcoming contests.