Elections; prohibit bar codes, QR codes, and other machine codes on ballots printed by electronic ballot markers
If enacted, this bill will have a significant impact on how elections are conducted in Georgia. By excluding the use of bar codes and similar machine codes, the bill seeks to enhance the transparency of the voting process, potentially mitigating concerns about vote manipulation or miscounting that could arise with such technology. However, the impact on accessibility and the efficiency of ballot processing using electronic systems will also need to be considered, as these technologies have been integrated into modern voting systems for their benefits in speed and accuracy.
House Bill 975 aims to amend certain provisions of Georgia's election code to prohibit the use of bar codes, QR codes, and other machine codes on ballots that are printed by electronic ballot markers. This legislative change is rooted in a broader concern for maintaining the integrity and transparency of the voting process. The bill emphasizes that the official ballot should consist solely of the text portion marked and printed by the electronic ballot marker, ensuring that the elector's selections are clearly visible and verifiable without the interference of machine-readable codes.
The passage of HB 975 is expected to generate discussions around voting technology and its implications for election security. Proponents of the bill argue that eliminating machine codes from ballots will safeguard against vulnerabilities posed by such technologies, thereby reinforcing public confidence in the electoral process. On the other hand, critics may argue that such a prohibition could lead to longer processing times and may exacerbate logistical challenges in election management, especially in efficiently handling high volumes of ballots.