hand-marked paper ballots

Georgia’s State Election Board passed a resolution allowing counties to use hand-marked paper ballots ahead of the 2026 general election, conflicting with the secretary of state’s guidance requiring continued use of current voting machines. The non-binding 3-1 vote aims to address potential delays in updating the state’s ballot QR code system under Senate Bill 189, which prohibits QR codes for official counts after July 1. The resolution contradicts instructions from Elections Director Blake Evans, who emphasized counties must follow existing procedures.