Paper Ballots Off The Table?
Lawmakers face mounting pressure to eliminate QR-coded ballots before state deadline
Georgia lawmakers narrowly rejected a proposal Friday that would have required hand-marked paper ballots for voters before the November elections, leaving the state scrambling to meet an upcoming legal deadline that bans QR codes on ballots.
The failed legislation highlights the ongoing national debate over election security, voting technology, and transparency, issues that have remained at the center of political discussion since the 2020 presidential election.
Georgia Senate Vote Falls Short
The Georgia Senate voted 27–21 against Senate Bill 568, falling just two votes short of the 29 votes required for passage in the 56-member chamber.
According to reporting from Atlanta-based public radio outlet WABE, seven senators did not vote after concerns were raised that implementing a major voting system change so close to upcoming elections could create logistical challenges for local election officials.
The proposal was introduced by Republican State Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming, who argued that requiring voters to mark paper ballots by hand would increase transparency and strengthen confidence in election results.
How Georgia’s Current Voting System Works
Georgia currently uses a touchscreen voting system across the state.
Under this system:
- Voters make their selections on a touchscreen machine.
- The device then produces a printed paper ballot that includes a QR code along with a text summary of the voter’s selections.
- Election scanners read the QR code to tabulate results.
Critics of the system say this process creates a potential transparency issue because voters cannot independently verify what information is stored in the QR code that scanners use to count ballots.
Supporters of hand-marked paper ballots argue that a traditional system would allow voters to directly review their selections before the ballot is scanned, making audits easier and improving voter confidence.
Many other states already use paper ballots filled out by hand and then scanned electronically, a system election technology experts say can be easier to audit during recounts or reviews.
Concerns About Changing the System Too Quickly
Despite the arguments in favor of paper ballots, some lawmakers warned that making such a large change right before statewide elections could cause serious administrative problems.
State Sen. Kim Jackson, a Democrat from Stone Mountain, cautioned that switching voting systems in a short time frame could lead to confusion for voters and election workers.
Jackson warned the rapid transition might create “chaos” during the election process if counties are forced to implement new equipment and procedures with limited preparation time.
A Legal Deadline Is Still Approaching
Even though the paper ballot proposal failed, Georgia lawmakers cannot simply maintain the current system.
A law approved by the state legislature two years ago mandates that ballots containing QR codes must be eliminated beginning July 1, requiring election officials to update or replace Georgia’s current voting system before the fall election season gets underway.
That looming deadline has left lawmakers under pressure to find a workable solution.
Some legislators may attempt to revive the paper ballot proposal by attaching it to another election-related bill that is still moving through the legislature.
Election Security Remains a Major Issue
The debate over voting systems is part of a broader effort in Georgia to reevaluate election procedures following the highly scrutinized 2020 presidential election.
In the years since, state lawmakers have implemented several election-related reforms, including changes to:
- absentee ballot procedures
- early voting rules
- ballot processing guidelines
- election administration policies
Supporters of additional reforms argue that improving transparency and auditability remains important for maintaining public confidence in elections.
Federal Investigation Draws Attention to Fulton County
The issue gained renewed attention earlier this year when federal authorities took action involving election materials in Fulton County.
In late January, the FBI executed a court-authorized search at the Fulton County elections warehouse, where officials seized approximately 700 boxes of election materials from the 2020 election.
According to reports, the materials included:
- physical ballots
- tabulator tapes
- ballot images
- voter roll records
Authorities said the materials were collected as part of an ongoing federal investigation into potential election law violations.
What Georgia Voters Can Expect Next
For now, Georgia’s May primary elections will continue using the current touchscreen voting machines.
However, with the July deadline to eliminate QR-coded ballots quickly approaching, lawmakers and election officials must determine how the state will comply with the law before the November elections.
The decision could have significant implications for how millions of Georgia voters cast their ballots in future elections.
