Georgia lawmakers have decided to delay changes to the state's current vote-counting system, which relies on QR codes printed on ballots, meaning the method will remain in place for the upcoming November midterm elections. The decision comes after state legislators postponed plans to redraw congressional and legislative districts.
Republican Governor Brian Kemp had placed both redistricting and the state's election system on the agenda for a special legislative session. On Wednesday, lawmakers rejected the governor's call to redraw districts for the 2028 election, citing concerns about moving too quickly following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minority voters. On Thursday, they advanced legislation to postpone a deadline that would have banned the use of QR codes for official vote counts after July 1 of this year.
The current system has been a target of criticism, particularly from former President Donald Trump, who has claimed without evidence that voting machines in Georgia manipulated votes in the 2020 election. Trump narrowly lost the state to Democrat Joe Biden that year.
Legislators had passed a law two years prior establishing the July 1 deadline to transition away from QR code tabulation, but no replacement system was implemented. The new legislation, advanced by state senators, would extend this deadline to January 1, 2028. It also proposes the creation of a committee to recommend specifications for a new voting system. Republican State Sen. Max Burns, a co-author of the bill, stated that the measure would provide clarity and certainty for election officials and voters.
County election officials had reportedly received conflicting guidance on how to proceed if the deadline passed without legislative action. The Senate proposal, which passed out of two committees Thursday and is scheduled for a full Senate vote on Saturday, has reportedly received agreement from the governor's office and leaders in the state House.
Concerns about the voting machines, manufactured by Dominion Voting Systems (now known as Liberty Vote), have been raised by some election integrity advocates who argue they are vulnerable to hacking and that voters cannot verify their selections due to the inability to read QR codes. Trump has previously singled out these machines, which are used in multiple states, in executive orders related to elections, though those orders have faced legal challenges.
The committee tasked with recommending a new voting system would have until January 31, 2027, to submit its findings. State lawmakers would then be responsible for the funding, purchase, and implementation of a new system for the 2028 election cycle. The committee would consist of three appointees each from the governor, the Senate, and the House.
Some voting rights activists had urged lawmakers to delay changes to the QR code system, expressing concern that any alterations close to the midterm elections could cause confusion for voters in Georgia, a key swing state. However, other voting rights advocates preferred to avoid disruptions. The bill passed also includes provisions for hand recounts in limited circumstances for statewide races, a measure that drew opposition from Democrats who argued it could create new opportunities to cast doubt on election results. Republican lawmakers supported the hand recount provision, framing it as a step toward greater accuracy and transparency.