Georgia Election Board Faces Pressure to Switch to Hand-Marked Paper Ballots

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones calls for immediate review of state's touchscreen voting system ahead of July 1 deadline

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:06pm

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A serene, dimly lit painting of a lone voting booth or ballot box, its details obscured by deep shadows and warm, angled sunlight, creating a pensive, contemplative mood around the electoral process.As Georgia's election officials grapple with a looming deadline to overhaul the state's voting system, the quiet uncertainty of the process is captured in a nostalgic, cinematic scene.Atlanta Today

The Georgia State Election Board is facing mounting pressure to switch to hand-marked paper ballots before the July 1 election deadline, after lawmakers left the issue unresolved. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has sent a letter to the board blaming Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for 'inaction' and calling for an immediate public review of the state's touchscreen voting system. The board is now considering triggering the backup plan of hand-marked paper ballots if they find the state can't continue with the current system, but election officials warn a quick change isn't feasible before the November elections.

Why it matters

The debate over Georgia's voting system has been a contentious issue, with the state's touchscreen voting machines facing criticism over security concerns and the potential for tampering. The push for hand-marked paper ballots is seen by some as a more secure and transparent option, but election officials warn that implementing such a major change before the next election could lead to chaos and disruption.

The details

At a recent State Election Board meeting, the issue of switching to hand-marked paper ballots was a major point of discussion. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones sent a letter to the board calling for an immediate public review of the state's touchscreen voting system and urging them to trigger the backup plan of hand-marked paper ballots if they find the current system cannot be continued. However, election officials like Joe Kirk, who leads Georgia's election officials, warned that a quick change to hand-marked paper ballots is not feasible, as it would require printers, ballots, training, and staff in all 159 counties, not just in the metro Atlanta area.

  • The Georgia legislature set a July 1 election deadline, but left the issue unresolved before adjourning.
  • The State Election Board is now facing pressure to make a decision on the voting system before the July 1 deadline.

The players

Burt Jones

The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia who sent a letter to the State Election Board pressuring them to switch to hand-marked paper ballots.

Brad Raffensperger

The Secretary of State of Georgia, who Lt. Gov. Jones blamed for 'inaction' on the voting system issue.

Joe Kirk

The leader of Georgia's election officials, who warned that a quick change to hand-marked paper ballots is not feasible before the November elections.

Janice Johnston

A member of the Georgia State Election Board who asked if the ACLU had a lawsuit planned related to the voting system issue.

Salleigh Grubbs

A new member of the Georgia State Election Board who argued the board can act to enforce the law, even if it means triggering a change to hand-marked paper ballots.

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What they’re saying

“There's no time to do that for November.”

— Joe Kirk, Leader of Georgia's election officials

“A lot of that's in the lieutenant governor's letter — it's grounded in solid legal advice… I think it's extremely important to make some movement forward.”

— Salleigh Grubbs, Member of the Georgia State Election Board

What’s next

The Georgia State Election Board is now considering the petition to switch to hand-marked paper ballots, which will start a mandatory 30-day public comment period before any final vote. Governor Brian Kemp is also still weighing whether to call a special legislative session to address the issue.

The takeaway

The debate over Georgia's voting system has reached a critical juncture, with the State Election Board facing intense pressure to make a decision on switching to hand-marked paper ballots before the July 1 deadline. This issue highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring secure and accessible elections, and the potential for political tensions to influence the process.