Georgia lawmakers convened a special legislative session on June 14 to debate election equipment rules, including deadlines for banning QR-code ballot tabulation systems.
Secretary of state officials warned that last-minute changes could confuse poll workers ahead of municipal elections.
Republican sponsors said paper-readable ballots improve auditability, while vendors argued retrofits are costly and unnecessary.
County election directors asked for funding guarantees if the legislature mandates new machines mid-cycle.
Civil rights groups monitor the session for provisions that might shorten early voting or relocate precincts.
Leadership hopes to adjourn quickly after resolving the tabulation dispute without reopening broader redistricting fights.
Election vendors demonstrated optical-scan alternatives during committee hearings livestreamed from the Georgia Capitol on June 14.
Democrats warned that rushed equipment swaps could disenfranchise voters if training timelines slip before municipal primaries.
Cybersecurity advisers recommended parallel logic-and-accuracy tests whenever counties install unfamiliar tabulation software.
Georgia county election supervisors asked lawmakers to fund poll-worker training if the legislature mandates new tabulation equipment before fall municipal elections with historically low turnout.
Georgia’s secretary of state published a checklist for counties considering tabulation upgrades, warning that untrained poll workers remain the biggest risk in rushed rollouts.
Officials said additional updates are expected as June 14 filings and statements are reviewed by reporters and verified against primary records.
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Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/georgia-lawmakers-return-for-special-session-focused-on-redistricting-election-system-deadline/