Why Georgia's voting machines could change before November

Georgia election officials face ballot uncertainty

Georgia election officials are preparing for May primaries while state leaders weigh a potential ban on ballot QR codes that could force a shift to paper ballots by November.

ATLANTA - Monday marks the final registration deadline for Georgians planning to vote in the May primaries. 

As county offices process last-minute applications, election officials are simultaneously navigating a looming legal deadline that could fundamentally change how votes are counted in the general election.

What we know:

Because state lawmakers took no action during the last legislative session, the state’s 159 counties are facing a potential technological overhaul mid-year. Currently, Georgia’s voting machines use QR codes to tally votes, but a pending July 1 deadline would phase out that technology.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has called for a review of the legality of the current machines post-deadline and suggests the state utilize its existing paper backup system for November if necessary.

What we don't know:

However, the transition is not as simple as switching from digital to paper. GAVREO President Joseph Kirk warns that the timeline is simply too tight, stating that making such abrupt changes to the counting process so close to the general election could disrupt the entire system.

Final day for Georgians to register to vote

Monday, April 20, 2026, is the final day for Georgians to register to vote or update their addresses to participate in the May 19 General Primary. While local offices are bustling with last-minute registrations, a much larger "statutory crisis" is brewing behind the scenes that has election officials across the state deeply concerned about the November general election.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to whether state leadership will call a special legislative session to address the QR code ban before the summer cutoff. Without intervention from lawmakers, the issue may move to the courts to decide how ballots will be handled.

In the meantime, county election boards are bracing for the dual challenge of running a May primary while potentially redesigning their entire workflow for November. If you haven't registered to vote yet, you must complete your application by the end of business today to participate in the upcoming primary.