SB 214: Elections and Primaries; electors to cast physical absentee on-request ballots as an alternative to using other authorized means of casting in-person votes; authorize

Georgia law currently requires counties to use state-provided electronic ballot markers and scanners statewide. This bill amends Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) to let the state provide new voting equipment starting around 2027 that may include hand-marked paper ballots and 'ballot on demand' printers, which print ballots for each ballot style at the polling place rather than pre-printing them. It sets rules for programming, testing, storing, and securing that equipment, and requires at least one electronic ballot marker without QR or bar codes to remain available for voters with disabilities. The bill also creates a state advisory committee to help certify the new equipment, requires ballot scanners to reject overvoted ballots so voters can fix mistakes before they're accepted, expands the line-skipping privilege currently given to voters 75 and older or disabled to include anyone accompanied by a child age two or younger, and lowers the vote-margin threshold that triggers an automatic recount right from 0.5% to 1%. It removes a prior option letting very small counties use plain pen-marked paper ballots instead of electronic ballot markers. Several sections take effect immediately, others on July 1, 2026, January 1, 2027, or January 1, 2028.

• Authorizes the state to provide new voting equipment starting no earlier than February 1, 2027, that may use hand-marked paper ballots and ballot-on-demand printing equipment instead of only electronic ballot markers.
• Creates a legal definition for 'ballot on demand printing' (printers that produce ballots for each ballot style) and 'hand marked paper ballot' in Georgia election law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2).
• Requires ballot scanners at precincts and advance voting locations to reject overvoted ballots so voters can review and fix them before the ballot is accepted.
• Expands the existing line-skipping accommodation for voters 75 or older or disabled to also cover any voter accompanied by a child two years old or younger, and changes the disability standard to whether standing in line 'would be impracticable.'
• Lowers the automatic recount threshold from a vote-margin difference of one-half of one percent to one percent of total votes cast.
• Removes a current option that let counties with fewer than 5,000 registered voters use plain pen-marked paper ballots as an alternative to electronic ballot markers.

County and municipal election superintendents and their staff, who must test and secure new ballot printing equipment; voters with disabilities, who are guaranteed access to accessible ballot markers; parents or guardians voting with young children; candidates seeking recounts; and small counties that currently use simplified paper ballots.

If enacted, Georgia's voting equipment could shift toward hand-marked paper ballots and on-site ballot printers rather than the current statewide electronic ballot marker system, changing how ballots are produced, tested, and secured. Voters accompanied by young children would gain faster access to voting, and closer elections would face a higher bar before triggering an automatic recount.

• Section 1 adds definitions for 'ballot on demand printing' and 'hand marked paper ballot' to O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2.
• Section 6 revises O.C.G.A. § 21-2-300 so the state can furnish equipment using hand-marked paper ballots and ballot-on-demand printers alongside or instead of electronic ballot markers, effective no earlier than February 1, 2027, with statewide use required for elections after December 31, 2027.
• Section 6 also creates a ten-member advisory committee, chaired by the Secretary of State, to help certify the new equipment system, set to expire July 1, 2029.
• Section 8 adds a new Code section (21-2-374.1) requiring superintendents to test, secure, and appoint custodians for ballot-on-demand printing equipment before each election.
• Section 16 requires ballot scanners to reject overvoted ballots and let voters correct them before the ballot is accepted.
• Sections 14 and 15 extend the current line-skipping privilege for elderly and disabled voters to voters accompanied by a child age two or younger.
• Section 20 raises the automatic recount trigger from a 0.5% vote-margin difference to 1%.
• Section 28 sets a general effective date of January 1, 2027, with some sections effective immediately on the Governor's signature, others on July 1, 2026, and Section 11 on January 1, 2028.

1. 2026-04-02House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-04-02House Third Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2026-01-14House Second Readers (House)
5. 2026-01-13House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-04-02Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-04-02Senate Engrossed (Senate)

• Max Burns (R, SD-023)Primary sponsor
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Colton Moore (R, SD-053)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Victor Anderson (R, HD-010)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   31 yea, 24 nay (0 not voting, 1 absent)

   Motion To Engross: Sb 214, Hb 66, Hb 79, Hb 129, Hb 134, Hb 141, Hb 370, Hb 397, Hb 445, Hb 463, Hb 532, Hb 586, Hb 652: Senate Vote #383

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   33 yea, 23 nay

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #397

3. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2026

   132 yea, 39 nay (4 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #856

• voting equipment
• election administration
• paper ballots
• voter accessibility
• election recounts