Public urges hand-marked ballots; legislature delays QR-code rollout and orders committee, recount rules

Public commenters at the DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections meeting urged the county to move toward hand-marked paper ballots and to protect election integrity amid recent state action on QR-code ballots.

Nancy Arnold, an online commenter, urged the board "to immediately transition to hand-marked paper ballots counted on optical scanners under OCGA 21-2-281," and argued that the current Dominion ballot-marking device (BMD) produces QR-code ballots that voters cannot independently verify. She said that the July 28 CD‑13 special election would be a "perfect low-risk opportunity" to implement a paper backup.

Another in-person commenter (introduced by the chair as Beth Ann Frohman) said the board's resolution on QR codes will carry costs but should allow the office and advocates to focus attention on improving early-voting access in parts of the county.

At the meeting's legislative update, board counsel Ms. Priddy said both chambers passed a bill in the special session and sent it to the governor. According to Ms. Priddy, the bill delays the contested QR-code implementation until Jan. 1, 2028; establishes a committee to make recommendations on the election system; requires a manual recount for the top two races on a ballot when the margin is under a half-percentage point; and includes provisions for the state to reimburse counties for reasonable recount costs. Ms. Priddy said she had not yet seen the final bill text and recommended the board review the enacted language.

Board member Gail Lee said she remains concerned that the county's current voter-marking and verification process may not satisfy federal requirements that voters be able to verify their selections before a ballot is cast.

The board did not adopt a countywide change to ballot technology at the meeting; staff said available funds and new statutory requirements (including manual counts) will influence costs and staffing decisions for fall elections.

What happens next: Ms. Priddy recommended the board and staff review the enacted bill'text once available. Staff also noted potential costs for manual counts and discussed using budgeted funds and temporary staffing to meet any new counting requirements.