SB 3: Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee; establish

Georgia currently uses touchscreen voting machines statewide. This bill sets up the Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee, made up of three people appointed by the Governor, three senators, and three House members, to recommend specifications for a new statewide voting system built around hand marked paper ballots printed on demand. The committee must report its recommendations by January 31, 2027, aimed at rolling out the new system for the 2028 elections. The bill also says the sitting Secretary of State has no authority over selecting, certifying, or procuring this new system, and voids any such actions already taken, unless the committee itself asks for input from the Secretary of State's office. Separately, the bill requires automatic statewide manual recounts for close statewide races (within half a percent) for governor and other top offices, with the state reimbursing counties that finish within 17 days. It also revises which contests must undergo risk-limiting audits and pushes back an effective date from a 2024 elections law. The new committee provision repeals itself on July 1, 2029, and the bill takes effect once signed by the Governor.

• Creates a nine-member Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee to recommend specifications for a new statewide voting system using hand marked paper ballots printed on demand.
• Requires the committee to deliver a detailed report by January 31, 2027, to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker, Secretary of State, and State Election Board, aimed at use by the 2028 elections.
• Strips the current Secretary of State of authority over selecting, certifying, or procuring the new voting system and declares any such prior actions void and legally invalid (ultra vires), unless the committee requests the office's input.
• Adds a mandatory statewide manual recount requirement for close top statewide races (governor, lieutenant governor, and other named offices) when the margin is half a percent or less, with the state reimbursing counties' recount costs if finished within 17 days.
• Expands the list of election contests that must automatically undergo risk-limiting audits (statistical checks of vote counts) to include presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general races.
• Delays the effective date of a section of a 2024 elections law (SB 189) to January 1, 2028.

The current Secretary of State, whose authority over selecting new election equipment is removed, the Governor, legislative leaders and appointed committee members who will design the new voting system, county election superintendents who administer recounts and audits, and Georgia voters whose ballots would eventually be cast on new equipment.

If enacted, Georgia would move toward replacing its current voting machines with hand marked paper ballots printed on demand, a major change to how votes are cast statewide. Close statewide races would trigger automatic recounts paid for by the state, and the sitting Secretary of State would lose control over choosing the new voting technology.

• Section 1 creates new Code Section 21-2-301 establishing the nine-member committee, its membership structure, and its mandate to recommend a hand marked paper ballot system printed on demand.
• Section 1 sets a January 31, 2027 deadline for the committee's report and directs it to policymakers including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker, Secretary of State, and State Election Board.
• Section 1 bars the sitting Secretary of State from any role in selecting, certifying, or procuring the new equipment and voids any prior related actions, unless the committee requests input.
• Section 1 provides per diem and travel expense payments for nonlegislative committee members, funded through the State Election Board, and repeals the committee provision on July 1, 2029.
• Section 2 amends Code Section 21-2-495 to require automatic manual recounts in qualified statewide contests when the margin is half a percent or less, with state reimbursement for counties that finish within 17 days.
• Section 3 revises Code Section 21-2-498 to expand the list of contests automatically subject to risk-limiting audits, adding presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general races.
• Section 4 revises a 2024 elections law (SB 189) to push the effective date of one of its sections to January 1, 2028.
• Section 5 makes the Act effective upon the Governor's signature or upon it becoming law without signature.

1. 2026-06-25Effective Date 2026-06-25
2. 2026-06-25Act 1EX
3. 2026-06-25Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senado)
4. 2026-06-23Senate Sent to Governor (Senado)
5. 2026-06-23Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senado)
6. 2026-06-23House Immediately Transmitted to Senate (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2026-06-23House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2026-06-23House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)

• Max Burns (R, SD-023)Patrocinador principal
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Lanny Thomas (R, SD-053)
• Steven McNeel (R, SD-018)

1. RechazadaVotación: Senado20 de junio de 2026

   19 a favor, 33 en contra (0 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Motion To Table: Senate Vote #10

2. RechazadaVotación: Senado20 de junio de 2026

   18 a favor, 33 en contra (1 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Motion To Adjourn: Senate Vote #11

3. AprobadaVotación: Senado20 de junio de 2026

   33 a favor, 19 en contra (0 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Motion To Resolve Debate: Senate Vote #12

4. AprobadaVotación: Senado20 de junio de 2026

   33 a favor, 19 en contra (0 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 31st: Senate Vote #13

5. AprobadaVotación: Senado20 de junio de 2026

   33 a favor, 19 en contra (0 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Passage As Amended: Senate Vote #14

6. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes23 de junio de 2026

   94 a favor, 79 en contra (2 sin votar, 4 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #18

7. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes23 de junio de 2026

   144 a favor, 28 en contra (3 sin votar, 4 ausentes)

   Immediately Transmit: House Vote #19

8. RechazadaVotación: Senado23 de junio de 2026

   19 a favor, 32 en contra (0 sin votar, 4 ausentes)

   Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #27

9. AprobadaVotación: Senado23 de junio de 2026

   36 a favor, 16 en contra (0 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #28

• election equipment
• voting machines
• Secretary of State authority
• election recounts
• risk-limiting audits