Special session ends as lawmakers postpone mandated changes to Georgia's election system

Caption

The Georgia Capitol is seen from its southwest corner in spring 2026.

Credit: Khari J. Sampson / GPB News

The state legislature concluded its special session Tuesday by passing a solution to a looming election deadline. 

Senate Bill 3EX would move a July 1 deadline to stop using QR codes on ballots to count votes to 2028. It would also appoint a commission to study a new election system for 2028, including hand-marked paper ballots.

The Senate’s version of that bill included an automatic hand recount of the two top of ticket races, but the House walked back that amendment. It now requires a hand recount of ballots if the margin of victory in a top of ticket race is within half of a percentage point.

The state will also reimburse counties for the cost of that hand recount.

Sen. Max Burns sponsored the bill.

"It adds confidence to Georgia's elections," the Sylvania Republican said.

Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones say confidence can be restored by leaders speaking out.

"We have the guts to stand up to people to say that these elections are free and these elections are fair and accurate,” Jones said.

Democrats tried to amend the bill to ensure one of their members from both chambers be appointed to the legislative committee being formed to study and advise on the new election system, but that amendment failed.

The bill passed both the House and the Senate in a mostly party-line vote.

Also during the session, proposed Local Homestead Option Sales Tax referendums failed to get the necessary votes in both chambers and lawmakers declined to redraw legislative maps this year. Both issues could be taken up again during the 2027 legislative session.