Georgia voters eyeing a quick move to hand-marked paper ballots are going to have to wait. On Tuesday, lawmakers signaled that the state’s touchscreen ballot-marking devices are likely to stick around for the 2026 midterm elections, after a House committee backed a plan to push a full switch to hand-marked paper ballots to 2028. The change would postpone a legal deadline that had been set for counties to stop using QR-code tabulation this summer, leaving local election officials juggling a tight and expensive timeline. For now, voters should expect to see the same machines at their polling places in November while legislators argue over the details.
House committee backs 2028 transition plan
The House Governmental Affairs Committee approved an amended version of Senate Bill 214 that would make hand-marked paper ballots the primary voting method in Georgia by January 2028, while keeping touchscreen ballot-marking devices available for voters with disabilities. Under the plan, ballots would be printed on demand at polling places and counted by optical scanners. State Rep. Victor Anderson told colleagues he has requested $150 million in the 2027 budget to pay for the transition, and lawmakers presented the extra time as a way to avoid logistical chaos at the polls. As reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Lawmakers warn a rushed change could be disruptive
Committee members said that trying to flip systems immediately would put heavy strain on counties, vendors and certification schedules, and could leave voters bewildered on Election Day. “It wasn’t feasible to comply with the deadline without causing a severe upset in our election system,” State Rep. Victor Anderson told the hearing. State Sen. Max Burns said the amendment is meant to give election officials clarity heading into November. The measure moved forward with mixed reactions from activists and county election leaders. As reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
What the law already requires
Legislation passed in 2024 already started reshaping how Georgia handles ballots produced by ballot-marking devices. Senate Bill 189 requires the state to stop using QR codes to count those ballots after July 1, 2026, and instead use a readable-text or bubble-style alternative. That looming deadline is a big reason lawmakers are now scrambling to lock in a formal transition schedule and procurement plan. According to Georgia Recorder, SB 189 and related litigation have fueled much of this year’s activity on voting rules.
Counties and election officials urge caution
Local election directors have warned that trying to swap systems in time for a high-profile midterm would be both costly and risky, pointing to the price of new scanners, printers and ballot paper, along with the need for expanded poll worker training. “Funding is a huge concern,” Travis Doss, executive director of the Richmond County Board of Elections, told lawmakers, adding that counties would likely end up covering many day-to-day expenses even if the state buys the core equipment. As reported by Georgia Public Broadcasting.
What comes next
For the new timelines to kick in, SB 214 still has to clear the full House, return to the Senate and then land on the governor’s desk for a signature. Lawmakers could also use the budget process to direct money toward new equipment and testing. Advocates on both sides say they are not backing off: pro-paper groups are still pressing for an earlier shift, while some election officials and legislators warn against a last-minute overhaul. As reported by Georgia Recorder.
