Key facts
- Georgia's current election system uses QR codes on ballots for vote tabulation.
- A law passed in 2024 will ban the use of QR codes for official vote counting after July 1, 2026.
- Lawmakers are convening in a special session to address this issue and find a new tabulation method.
- Conflicting guidance has been issued by the secretary of state's office and the State Election Board.
- A special election for a U.S. House seat is scheduled for July 28, potentially impacted by the unresolved issue.
Georgia lawmakers are convening for a special session this week to address a critical issue with the state's election system: a law banning the use of QR codes for official vote tabulation after July 1, 2026, without a replacement method in place. This legislative action comes after Governor Brian Kemp called for the session to resolve problems created by the existing law.
The current system, which uses QR codes printed on ballots for vote tallying, has been a point of contention since the 2020 election. While Republican lawmakers passed the ban two years ago, no alternative has been implemented. This has led to conflicting guidance from the Secretary of State's office and the State Election Board, potentially causing confusion and litigation.
The Secretary of State's office proposed a plan involving scanning QR codes for an initial count, followed by optical character recognition software on electronic images for the official tabulation. However, the State Election Board, often at odds with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, countered with a resolution directing counties to use hand-marked paper ballots as an emergency backup if the legislative session does not extend the QR code deadline.
Local election officials, such as Axiver Harris of Henry County, are awaiting further clarification due to the uncertainty. The situation is further complicated by a special election to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by the late U.S. Rep. David Scott, scheduled for July 28, with early voting beginning July 6. The outcome of the special session could significantly impact this upcoming election and future voting processes in Georgia.