Georgia Election Board Faces July 1 QR Code Deadline With

Georgia State Election Board eyes QR code ballot ban deadline July 1 with counties in limbo and no legislative fix. Midterms hang in balance.

House Pushes Delay, Senate Stalls

The Georgia House passed a bill this year to push the QR code ban to 2028 and allocate funding for replacements. Senate leaders never called it for a vote before adjourning April 2. The measure died with the end of the biennial session, forcing any fix to restart in January 2027.

County election directors welcomed the House plan. Paulding County's Deidre Holden told Capitol Beat the original timeline set counties up for failure. Jones County's Marion Hatton said vendors instructed her office to hold off on orders until the state clarifies next steps, according to 13WMAZ.

Counties Can't Switch in Time

Replacing Dominion systems demands certified scanners, new ballot stock and retrained poll workers. Experts estimate six months to a year for full rollout. With primary early voting starting April 27, counties face impossible logistics for November.

Marion Hatton explained to 13WMAZ her small office could handle hand-counting 1,000 votes but not larger volumes. Atlanta's Fulton County processed half a million ballots in recent cycles. University of Georgia professor Charles Bullock warned of injunctions halting elections until compliance, predicting Gov. Kemp might call a special session to authorize current equipment.

The State Election Board, which sets rules and probes violations, hears from frustrated locals today. Chair John Fervier leads members including Salleigh Grubbs, who called the QR issue a "voting emergency" in March, per GPB.

QR Ban Roots in Security Push

Supporters argue QR codes hide voter intent behind machine data, undermining audits. State Sen. Greg Dolezal backs hand-marked paper ballots used in most states. The board unanimously resolved in March to implement them "as soon as practicable."

Critics like Democratic strategist Fred Hicks say ditching QR codes delays results and fuels conspiracies. Former Rep. Bob Barr calls for Gov. Kemp to convene lawmakers if needed. Litigation looms from groups alleging non-compliance post-July 1.

Georgia's system prints readable ballots voters verify before scanning. Scanners tally QR data for speed. SB 189 mandates text-based counting to prioritize human marks. No funding accompanied the law, leaving costs on counties despite state certification requirements.

Lawsuits or Special Session Next

Counties wait on the board's direction post-meeting. Gov. Kemp has not committed to a special session. Attorney General Chris Carr advised the board previously on legal risks. Without action, courts decide ballot methods five months before Election Day.

Board member Janelle King said in March the panel might petition for hand-marked ballots. Resolution today could trigger vendor bids or rule changes. Primary registration closes April 20. The board reconvenes soon to finalize guidance before summer prep ramps up.