Georgia Senate Votes to Extend QR Code Vote Counting Deadline
On Saturday, the Georgia Senate voted to extend the deadline for eliminating QR code-based vote counting, approving a bill that would maintain the current system until 2028. This legislation also introduces new requirements for election audits and recounts.
The proposal, put forward by State Senator Max Burns, sparked a divisive debate among Republicans and Democrats over the handling of election procedures and ballot security.
If enacted, the bill would delay the existing July 1 deadline for banning QR codes in vote counting. It would also establish a commission to assist in selecting future voting equipment, enhance post-election audit requirements, and mandate manual recounts for the two most closely contested races before results are finalized.
Burns emphasized that the measure offers election officials a practical way forward while lawmakers deliberate on the long-term strategy for voting technology in the state. “This is a good bill that will prepare Georgia for future elections, ensure that the elections scheduled for 2026 are held in an orderly manner, and allow us to get things right,” he stated.
Currently, Georgia’s election system relies on electronic ballot marking devices that produce paper ballots with QR codes. These codes are scanned to tally votes, and state officials have long cautioned that dismantling the existing system could lead to significant financial issues.
Last year, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger warned that shifting to a new system would require a costly investment of $66 million. However, when the General Assembly concluded its budgeting process for the upcoming 2026 election cycle, there was no allocated funding for this transition.
In a related move, Congress passed an amendment mandating local election officials to manually recount ballots for the top two races before certifying results. If discrepancies are found during manual counting, the official totals will be adjusted based on existing state law. This amendment passed with a 33-19 vote.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Kim Jackson expressed concern that Republicans are creating a landscape for potential post-election challenges, questioning their motivations regarding the new recount rules. “It throws us into chaos, and I actually believe that’s the intent here. Republicans are baking into this process an opportunity to create doubt in November so they can challenge what they know will be a blue wave,” she remarked.
Democrats have also criticized the proposed advisory committee for future voting systems, pointing out that it would exclude minority party members from the group responsible for recommendations.
The bill was introduced during a special legislative session convened by Governor Brian Kemp. In addition to the QR code issue, lawmakers are discussing various other election and tax-related topics. Although Kemp suggested considering potential redistricting changes after recent Supreme Court rulings on voting rights, Republican leaders decided against pursuing new district maps.
The proposal is now in the hands of the House of Representatives and could be reviewed in committee as early as Monday.
