Georgia Rejects Paper Ballot Rule for 2024 Elections

Georgia Blocks Paper Ballot Rule Amid Heated Voting System Debate

Georgia’s State Election Board has rejected a proposal that aimed to define when hand-marked paper ballots could replace touchscreen voting machines. The decision came after a tied vote and heated debate over the board’s authority and the need for clearer voting rules in the state elections.

The failed measure would have set out specific circumstances for using paper ballots, which currently serve only as emergency backups in the Georgia football election results.

The proposed rule faced strong opposition from the start. Critics, including key legislators and the state attorney general’s office, argued that the board was exceeding its legal powers. They claimed the change would create a loophole for widespread paper ballot use, undermining the existing system.

Earlier this year, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the board could enforce election laws but not alter them. This ruling shaped much of the debate. Opponents also warned that the proposal could lead to confusion and inconsistency in the state election results 2024 procedures.

Supporters, including long-time critics of Georgia’s voting machines, pushed for the change. Many had campaigned against the machines since the 2020 election, citing concerns over security and transparency. They argued that paper ballots would improve trust in the state farm election process.

State Rep. Victor Anderson stated that lawmakers were already reviewing concerns about the voting machines. He described the board’s proposal as premature, suggesting legislative action was the better path. Board vice chair Janice Johnston agreed, saying that defining ballot use should be left to legislators, not the board.

After the 2-2 vote, board members decided to lobby lawmakers instead. They announced that election security advocates and voting rights groups would work with legislators to include hand-marked paper ballots in future state farm election laws.

The rejection leaves Georgia’s current voting system unchanged for now. Hand-marked paper ballots will remain an emergency option only. The focus now shifts to the legislature, where lawmakers will consider whether to adopt similar rules in state law. The debate highlights ongoing tensions over voting security and the balance of power between election officials and lawmakers.