ATLANTA — As Georgia considers a change to the state’s voting system, election leaders are urging lawmakers to move quickly.
For 25 years, Georgia has used some form of touchscreen voting.
Moving to hand-marked paper ballots will be a challenge, according to Michael Barnes, who oversees information technology for voting systems in the secretary of state’s office.
“It is going to require training at the poll worker level,” Barnes said. “Training at the public level, and training at the legislative level so that our lawmakers are aware of what is needed to execute a proper election regardless of what voting system is selected.”
State Election Director Blake Evans says poll worker training takes place months before an election.
“So, they at least got to have some equipment to be able to build the training manuals and stuff in the end of next year,” Evans said.
County leaders in Georgia would also have to create training for poll workers, according to officials.
“The equipment’s got to be in the hands November or December of next year so they can get that ready. Please, as fast as you can,” Evans said. “Getting the legislature through, getting it signed, getting it the process started is probably going to be the best advice that I can give you.”
Barnes says educating voters and election workers about a new system will take time.
He recommends lawmakers put a new system in place by fall 2027 so it can be operational in time for the presidential primaries in early 2028.
The legislature will have the final say on any new system.