Election Law Could Slow Vote Counting in Key Midterm Battleground
Georgia's election law change could slow vote counting in the midterm elections as it phases out the use of QR codes for ballot tabulation after July 1. Election officials are concerned about the tight timeline to make necessary changes to comply with the law.
Georgia, a key midterm battleground, may face slower ballot counting due to a 2024 law that phases out QR code use for ballot tabulation after July 1. The law requires the official tabulation count to be based on the text portion or machine mark, not QR codes. Election officials, like Bartow County's Joseph Kirk, are concerned about the tight timeline to comply. Kirk suggests that the state needs legal guidance on the law's implementation. The Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials has pressed for an extension to the deadline or new funding. Possible solutions include a special legislative session, executive action by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, or a lawsuit. Neither Raffensperger's nor Gov. Brian Kemp's office has specified the next step.
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