Key facts
- Georgia lawmakers are set to delay changes to the state's vote-counting system, which uses QR codes.
- The current system will likely remain in place for the upcoming November election.
- A bill to extend the deadline for changing the election system to January 1, 2028, has advanced.
- The legislation also proposes creating a committee to recommend specifications for a new voting system.
- The committee is expected to report its findings by January 31, 2027, with implementation planned for the 2028 election cycle.
Georgia's state lawmakers are moving to postpone a decision on changing the state's current vote-counting system, which relies on QR codes printed on ballots. This means the existing system is likely to remain in place for the November election, a move that some voting rights advocates had hoped to avoid due to potential confusion.
This development follows the legislature's earlier decision to reject plans for redrawing congressional and legislative districts for the 2028 election, citing concerns about acting too quickly after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling impacted federal Voting Rights Act protections.
The proposed legislation, advanced by state senators, would extend the July 1 deadline for implementing a new election system to January 1, 2028. It also establishes a committee tasked with recommending specifications, standards, and requirements for a new voting system. Republican state Sen. Max Burns, a co-author of the bill, stated that the proposal aims to provide certainty to election officials and voters.
County election officials have reportedly received conflicting advice regarding vote tabulation methods in the event the legislature failed to extend the deadline or implement a new system. The Senate proposal has received agreement from the governor's office and House leaders and is scheduled for a full Senate vote on Saturday.
Georgia's voting machines have been a focal point for conspiracy theories, though manufacturer Dominion Voting Systems has vigorously defended its products in court. However, election integrity advocates have also raised concerns about the machines' vulnerability to hacking and the inability of voters to verify their selections due to the unreadable nature of QR codes.