--- title: House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 17, 2026 collection: meetings id: 2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs cite_as: House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 17, 2026, video https://vimeo.com/1176253106 (machine transcript by Georgia Commons) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs/text source_url: https://vimeo.com/1176253106 date: 2026-03-17 status: machine transcript corpus_version: meetings-2026-10-23-8c15ead0f18d license: Machine transcript and summaries by Georgia Commons from the General Assembly's public video; the video stays on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/senate-children-and-families.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/senate-education-and-youth.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md chamber: House body: House Governmental Affairs Committee body_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/house-governmental-affairs.md meeting_kind: committee session: 2025-2026 Regular Session start_time: 2026-03-17T13:00:00-04:00 location: 506 CLOB duration_seconds: 8136.0 video_id: 1176253106 video_title: 3.17.26 Governmental Affairs agenda_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/house/Governmental Affairs%2FGovernmental Affairs Committee Meeting Notice 3-17-26.pdf bills_discussed: - SB 214 summaries_model: gpt-6.1-sol transcript_turns: 507 transcript_chars: 128285 parts: - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=0 - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=59684 - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=119674 --- # House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 17, 2026 House Governmental Affairs Committee; March 17, 2026; 2025-2026 Regular Session. Video, on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/1176253106. Agenda: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/house/Governmental Affairs%2FGovernmental Affairs Committee Meeting Notice 3-17-26.pdf. > This is a machine transcript of the General Assembly's video, made by a speech-recognition model. It is not an official record and can mishear words, names, and numbers. Speakers are not identified. The video is the record: every timestamp links to the moment it plays. ## Summary written by Georgia Commons Written by gpt-6.1-sol from the transcript below. It is not part of the record. Quote the transcript or the video, not the summary. The committee considered a substitute for [SB 214](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb214) that would move Georgia toward ballots printed on demand, marked by voters and counted by scanners, with full implementation by January 1, 2028. Members and witnesses discussed training, funding, accessibility, equipment security and transferring a ballot-image audit pilot to the State Election Board. Local election officials and several advocacy organizations supported the longer transition, while opponents sought earlier changes or hand-counting. The committee adopted three amendments and rejected three others concerning audit authority or timing. The committee approved the substitute as amended by voice vote, with opposition heard but no final vote count stated. ## Bills discussed (1) Each account was written by gpt-6.1-sol from the stretch of the transcript it names. The bill's number is said in that stretch, unless it was the only bill on a committee's agenda. ### 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 [SB 214](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb214) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:19:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1150s), turns 4 to 505. The sponsor said the substitute would require a statewide system using ballots printed on demand and optical scanners by January 1, 2028, remove QR codes and retain accessible ballot-marking equipment. The House presenter said procurement and equipment constraints made a 2026 transition impractical. Members questioned training, cybersecurity, correct ballot assignments, county costs and audit authority. The presenters cited existing training duties, $15 million in county assistance and efforts to secure more funding. Local election officials supported the timeline; a Glynn County witness said ballot testing would help ensure correct assignments. An ACLU of Georgia witness welcomed accessibility protections but sought clear funding commitments. Voter GA witnesses opposed the delay and sought hand-counting, stronger audits and nonproprietary software. A Common Cause Georgia witness questioned expanded State Election Board authority. The sponsor defended transferring the audit pilot as separating election operations from review; members and witnesses questioned the board’s capacity. The committee adopted amendments narrowing precinct-record review language while retaining discrepancy investigations, correcting a drafting term and allowing seven advisory committee members to call a meeting. It rejected proposals to preserve the secretary of state’s parallel pilot, remove the board’s audit authorization or delay that transfer until 2027. The delay proposal failed 7–9. The amended substitute passed by voice vote, without a stated count. > The transcript runs 128,285 characters. A reader that cannot take it at once can read it in 3 parts: part 1 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=0; part 2 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=59684; part 3 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=119674. ## Transcript (507 turns) [0:17:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1057s) Okay, if everybody can come to order, we're gonna get ready and get started. We, uh, unfortunately, we are losing this room at 3:00, so we're gonna make this, our presentation of this bill, as quickly as possible so that we can get... We have a lot of people signed up to speak. Uh, I'm gonna start us off today, and then I'm gonna turn the microphone and, uh, and the meeting over to, uh, excuse me, if I don't trip him first, uh, Vice Chair, Chairman Brad Thomas. Uh, and, uh, we'll proceed from there. So, uh, I'd like to... This is the, uh, House Governmental Affairs Committee, and I'd like to ask, uh, Representative Bazemore if she would take us to the Lord in prayer. [0:18:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1096s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, everybody. Posture of prayer. Lord, we do thank you. We praise you. We glorify your holy name on this day that you have made, and we will rejoice and be glad therein. We ask that you remember each and every person in this place, Lord God, everyone attached to them, Lord God. And Lord, as we go over this, um, legislation that's being proposed, Lord God, give us the God idea. Give us what we need to represent our constituents in this great state of Georgia, Lord God, and that all is well, Lord God, when we are done. [0:18:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1133s) In Jesus' name we pray, amen. [0:18:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1136s) Amen. [0:18:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1136s) Amen, thank you. Uh, at this time I'm gonna ask Senator Burns to come up to the- the table, and I will join him and turn the meeting over to, uh, uh, Vice Chair Thomas, who will be presenting Senate, the committee substitute to Senate Bill 214. [0:19:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1174s) Welcome, y'all. Give us just a second. We're, uh, kinda getting set up administratively here, but we'll- we'll get moving here in just a minute or two. [0:20:01](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1201s) Mr. Chairman, at this time I recognize you and Senator Burns to, uh, present the bill. Thank you. Uh, would you please read the LC number, just to make sure we have the correct number? [0:20:11](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1211s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, thank you for the committee's consideration. We are working off of LC47-4253S. Is that correct? 47-4253S. [0:20:26](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1226s) That is correct. [0:20:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1227s) Thank you. Um, I wanna start by thanking the committee and- and thanking the chairman. Um, this has been a journey. Uh, SB 214 was introduced in the Senate in February of 2025. It was, uh, adopted in the Senate in its, uh, o- old form in April, April 2nd of 2025, and has moved... [0:20:58](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1258s) Uh, excuse me, in April of 2025, and has now been in the House as they work diligently to, uh, to improve the legislation to a point where we can- we can consider it today. Uh, this is, uh, we're- we're gonna land the plane today. It's been a bit of a interesting ride. Um, the objective is that we get to a point where we're on final approach, and that this legislation puts us in a position to, uh, complete the process to, uh, revise our- our voting systems in Georgia to ensure that every legal vote counts, that everyone has an opportunity to cast their ballots in a safe and secure fashion, and that Georgia, um, elections are fair, impartial, and accurate. [0:21:47](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1307s) So, with that, uh, I wanna, uh, we- we'll walk through the bill, and I'll ask my- my good friend, uh, the chairman, to kinda assist me in this, because many of the changes that we'll talk about today are his, are his and his colleagues' handiwork. Uh, I certainly wanna thank Gabriel. I wanna thank a number of people who've had input into this. But at the end of the day we have to have, uh, some closure in how elections will proceed in the future beyond July the 1st of 2026. [0:22:20](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1340s) So, there are a number of key changes that we'll highlight as we go along. Uh, we're gonna propose a new statewide voting system that will become effective really, um, in 2028, but it will be a uniform system with optical scanning using hand-marked paper ballots. It'll provide ballot on-demand printing. It will ensure that the state provides the necessary equipment for counties to implement this new voting system, and it'll ensure that electronic, um, electronic ballot marking devices are available for those who have, uh, special needs with disabilities. [0:22:59](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1379s) Uh, it will remove all extraneous QR codes. The official ballot will be a human-readable ballot. There will be no QR codes, no barcodes, no codes that a human cannot understand, and that's a key component of- of SB 214. It will, uh, expect and require the- the need for on-demand printing, ballot printing on demand, so that we can ensure that every elector gets the exact ballot image to cast their votes. [0:23:35](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1415s) It will require... Ballot tabulation view via, uh, scanners that we use now that will be upgraded. They'll also provide an image at an appropriate, um, resolution for effective, um, sharing across the state. There'll be transparency and accountability in ballot design, in ballot images, in auditing. Uh, we've worked very, very hard to ensure that the, uh, system is transparent and auditable. [0:24:11](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1451s) Uh, we're gonna provide secure chains of custody and testing, again, with observation and oversight, uh, to ensure that those things are done in conformance with Georgia law. And we're gonna make sure that anyone who, um, takes advantage of our voting systems criminally will be appropriately, uh, held accountable. And we'll, uh, address effective dates as we move along. But effec- effectively, the provisions of this legislation would begin to go effect in January 1st of 2027 with full implementation by January 1st of 2028. [0:24:46](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1486s) So with that introduction, let's quickly walk through the bill. It's about 20 pages or so. Some of it is, is very, um, very straightforward and may not require a lot of, uh, expansion on comments. I think if you go to section one, that's a simple definition of ballot-on-demand printing. This is a concept that's used widely across, uh, our nation to provide paper ballots for individuals who sh- who, um, go to a polling place, either an advanced polling place or an election day polling place. [0:25:23](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1523s) They will be given the exact ballot that is appropriate for their precinct. So ballot-on-demand printing, section one. If you look at section two, this is a, a, a section that deals with control. It strengthens the superintendent's control. They keep records of official ballots created by ballot-on-demand printing. Section three, again, ballot-on-demand printing. You'll see a lot of that. The substance of, again, section four, ballot-on-demand printing. [0:25:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1553s) Section five deals with chain of custody and strengthens control of those ballots that were printed. Section six, there's a good bit of conversation here, so we'll pause a minute. Section six, uh, establishes the, um, structure of a statewide voter system in 2028 and beyond, and I think that's extremely important. So beginning not earlier than February the 1st of 2027, all federal state county elections occurring after December, uh, 31st of 2027 will utilize a ballot-on-demand printing system with QR codes and, uh, give us the ability to ensure that the elections are, uh, appropriately administered with not only, uh, paper ballots, either hand-marked or machine-produced paper ballots without QR codes, without extraneous, um, marks that are intended. [0:27:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1622s) It'll, it'll allow for alignment marking, but not for code interpretation. So the, the issue is here in section six, go to a new statewide voting system, uh, actually January 1st of 2028. Is that right? [0:27:17](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1637s) That's, that's, that's the deadline for, yes, for implementation. [0:27:19](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1639s) That's the deadline for selecting the equipment. [0:27:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1641s) That's the deadline for implementation. [0:27:22](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1642s) Implementation. Thank you. [0:27:23](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1643s) Implementation. Those, the equipment that can be selected- [0:27:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1645s) In 20- [0:27:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1645s) ... and implemented any time after February 1st of 27. [0:27:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1648s) After February 1st- [0:27:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1649s) Yes [0:27:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1649s) ... 2027. Thank you. All right. And then, um, I think it's important to highlight lines 127 and following. The Secretary of State will have responsibility for this, but as, as the Secretary of State certifies the new uniform system for elections, there will be an advisory committee that, uh, will assist in that review and selection process, and you see there in lines 30 and following the members of that advisory committee. You will note that the advisory committee will, will dissolve July the 1st of 2029. [0:28:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1687s) And then there's a pilot program, uh, on section, uh, line 152. Uh, the Secretary of State's authorized to conduct a pilot program to test and evaluate the use of optical scanning voting systems, which is where we're moving, and ballot-on-demand printing. Moving to section seven, it deals with ballot design, so that the superintendent, uh, is responsible for the ballot design. [0:28:39](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1719s) They can, um, they have to verify the design with the candidates and the parties. There's testing there. There's the ability to establish a custodian for those p- uh, ballot-on-demand printing systems. Um, I think it's important to note in lines 223 and 224 that a- as you're preparing and testing the ballot-on-demand printing, that they have to be, um, observed with representatives from political parties, from the news media, and, uh, public, so that as we prepare the ballots to be printed electronically for the elector, they will be verified prior to, uh, the election cycle. [0:29:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1771s) Section eight deals with custody. Um, there will be a number of printed ballots, um, based on the ballot-on-demand approach, and this section allows for the custody of those ballots Section 10 ensures that the offic- I'll point to lines 256 and 257, the official ballot shall constitute the official vote for purposes of tabulation and, and any recount conducted pursuant to an audit. [0:30:04](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1804s) So the, the official ballot is the paper ballot. Now, section 11 deals with penalties for people who would, uh, abuse the electronic ballot on-demand system or the, uh, optical scanning system. Section 12, uh, allows for, again, jurisdictions, uh, where you have optical scanning voting systems. The scanners are used in polling places on Election Day as well as during, uh, early voting, and then you can have electronic, um, systems for accommodations. [0:30:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1844s) Sections 13 and 14 are additions, uh, to accessibility so that during advanced voting and during, uh, Election Day voting, uh, any elector who's accompanied, on, on lines 292 to 293, accompanied by one or more children two years of age or under would be included in the ability to, on request, line 296, on request be designated by the, uh, uh, employee to immediately advance to the front of the line so they get a chance to vote without delay when it's impractical for them to wait due to either age, disability, or young children. [0:31:30](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1890s) So moving on to section 15. [0:31:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1897s) Um, we'll stop and, and take a pause here. The elector will mark their ballot. They'll, they'll receive a print-on-demand document. They will mark their ballot manually, and then they will place their ballot as they do today into a ballot scanner. But the ballot scanner will determine if there is an overvote, if there are strenuous marks, or if there are issues. And if there is a problem, it rejects the ballot, and the elector adjudicates their own ballot. [0:32:09](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1929s) So the elector, if they had made a mistake, they would make that correction, and it would be done at the point of, uh, of voting when they put their ballot into the scanner. Section 16 again references on-demand ballots. Section 17 requires, uh, some accountability, um, and accessibility to public access for accounting ballots, for tabulation centers, for recap forms. It ensures that there's strong, uh, access by the electorate and by the public in the voting process. [0:32:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1969s) Uh, section 18 deals with optical scanning voting systems and, and the ability to ensure that those systems work correctly as far as relating to computation, canvassing, and tabulation of returns. It just adds optical scanning voting systems as the primary means of conducting elections. Section 19. Am I 19? [0:33:15](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1995s) Mm-hmm. [0:33:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=1996s) Section 19 is audits, the ability to perform a pilot audit. I wanna pause here again. It places the audit in the state election board, where in the past it's been in the secretary of state's office, and the reason for that is separation of duties and separation of powers. We would like a, uh, a- an additional review and an additional audit by a third party, and we've asked the state election board to create a pilot program to do that. Section 20 is, uh, uh, penalties for any person who willfully, uh, interferes with elections. [0:33:54](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2034s) Section 21 deals with, uh, tampering again, voting machine, electronic ballots, tampering, and, uh, offenses along those lines. Section 22 is, uh, the same issue of tampering with direct recording equipment. And then finally, 23 and 24, uh, are definitions where we use the term voting equipment ballot scanner. 25 is, uh, poll officers, again, uh, uh, who willfully abuses and defrauds the system and the penalties associated with that. [0:34:33](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2073s) Finally, we'll pause at 25 and 26. [0:34:38](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2078s) This legislation proposes that the effective date become January 1st of 2028. That's line 490. And in section, uh, section 25 and in section 2026, uh, section 26, um, m- much of that becomes effective upon signature. Others of it become effective January 1st of 2027. And then section 10, which is the ballot on-demand printing with the electronic voting system, uh, with the optical scanning voting system, is effective January 1st of 2028. [0:35:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2116s) So quick review. I'm gonna turn it over to, uh, Chairman Anderson to make any corrections or ob- observations or expansion of what is in now Senate Bill 214. [0:35:35](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2135s) Yes, Chair. Thank you, Senator. And, uh, uh, honestly, I couldn't have done a better section-by-section review myself. Uh, that's, that's a good outline of what this bill does. Uh, as Senator Burns had mentioned, this is the result of, of, uh, literally hundreds of hours of either testimony, comments, uh, in-person meetings, remote meetings, discussions, lots of, uh, emails, a lot of information that came our way, and is still coming our way. So, uh, I wanna thank everybody who's been a part of this, and I wanna thank the senator and, and the Senate for, uh, allowing us to, to coop- co- collaborate on this, this, uh, effort. [0:36:12](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2172s) Uh, this is not where we started out. This was not the original version, uh, that we had proposed, uh, as a sub for 214. Uh, unfortunately, as we began to work through that process, uh, in looking at trying to comply with the July 1st date of this year that was set forth in 189 two years ago, uh, we, we very, uh, quickly and very abruptly began to realize that the practicality of that happening without, uh, causing a, a, a severe upset in our election system, uh, it just, it just wasn't gonna happen. [0:36:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2209s) It, it wasn't possible. So, uh, uh, you know, it's, it's not the direction we wanted to go originally. It's not the direction we began to set out. And as many of you know, and a lot of people in this room unfortunately showed up for a meeting we, we had scheduled earlier in this session where we had planned to roll out a very different looking version of this, uh, but, uh, different things came to light, primarily our procurement processes, availability of equipment, uh, the, just the procedures of, of what it would take to, uh, to go straight to a hand-marked paper ballot system between May and November. [0:37:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2245s) Uh, it's, it's just not practical. It can't happen. So, uh, so with that said, senator, I'll turn it back over to you. [0:37:33](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2253s) Let me just, um, make an, uh, an observation, and I want, uh, the committee to understand how we got to this point. Um, in Dec- in, in February, February the 15th of 2023, uh, I submitted Senate Bill 189. Um, that worked through the process in '23, finally passed in February of '24 by the Senate, and then passed by the House in March of '24, and then signed by the governor in April, April the 4th of 2024. [0:38:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2296s) So original bill, SB 189, eliminated the use of QR codes because the electorate was not comfortable, and it's a confidence issue, and it's an accuracy issue. So the objective of SB 189 was to eliminate QR codes, uh, in elections in Georgia. That is law. The governor signed that bill on April the 4th of 2024. [0:38:47](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2327s) Um, actually, the governor signed it on May the 6th. May the 6th of 2024. So nothing happened. Uh, there was no activity in the secretary of state's office to implement SB 189, and at that time, we negotiated, uh, with the secretary of state's office in good faith to delay implementation for an extended period of time. Matter of fact, we delayed it from t- May of '24, May of '25. We actually put the original implementation date as July the 1st of 2026, which is fast approaching. [0:39:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2367s) So from May the 6th of 2024 to July the 1st of 2026, we did not make progress in implementing SB 189, which precipitated SB 214 in February of '25. And now we're at '26. So this bill is necessary because if we do nothing, the electorate, and especially our election officials and our, uh, uh, election superintendents across the state will not have clarity in how to conduct elections in November of 2026. [0:40:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2413s) So while I'm disappointed that we could not implement this concept in a more timely manner, I support the delay of implementation to ensure that elections are done, uh, accurately, uh, smoothly, and appropriately for our state. So, uh, with that, Mr. Chairman, if it's all right with you, Mr. Chairman, I'd be happy to entertain concerns or questions from the committee. [0:40:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2437s) Okay, so here's the-- I'm gonna take a little chairman's discretion here. Uh, I'm gonna limit questions to about 20 minutes to give an opportunity for the 29 speakers that we have to have an opportunity to say their piece. So, uh, w- that will put us at a hard stop on questions at 1:48. So, uh, we'll just keep that in mind. And we'll-- I will offer, offer the opportunity for the, the committee to again ask questions at the end. So, uh, with that being said, the first person that has signed up for questions, Representative Burnough. [0:41:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2470s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, you, um, outlined your bill, and the one thing that was not in it that has always, uh, been a problem is there was nothing in there of how these people are going to be trained, the ones that-- the election officials. There's nothing about training. There's nothing about money for training. And so I remember the last time we got those machines, and then that's when people were standing out in the rain because they didn't have the right, um, equipment. [0:41:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2502s) They didn't have the right plugs. So nothing is said about the, the facilities, um, if there's gonna have to be an upgrade, um, if they have to have certain technology, uh, in the voting precincts. So I'm not-- I don't understand why you don't have that in there. [0:42:01](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2521s) Very valid question, and I'll, I'll turn it over to the chairman for just a second. But let me say that's a, that's a very valid point, and I think our election officials deserve the training and the time and the support that is required to operate our elections in Georgia. And, uh, and this bill allows for that, um, with the leadership of the secretary of state and the secretary of state's office. So it is common that the secretary of state would provide the training. I would suggest that the system that we're moving toward is gonna be less demanding on the technical aspects because it goes to a, a print-on-demand printer, which is about the size of a computer printer. [0:42:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2562s) It is a computer printer, specialized, and the cost is roughly $3,000 or so for a printer. But it ensures that that elector gets the right ballot, and then they mark it by hand, and then they scan it themselves. And at the end of the day, I believe you're gonna see a more simplified, streamlined process. And I'll ask, uh- [0:43:05](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2585s) Well, as a retired educator, I make no assumptions. [0:43:09](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2589s) Well- [0:43:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2590s) And so people- [0:43:11](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2591s) I, I share your, your background [0:43:12](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2592s) ... people, people have to be trained. [0:43:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2593s) I, I share your background. [0:43:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2594s) Um, and so that's what happened the last time. It was assumed. And Secretary of State, and they said they did an excellent job, and that was a, a disaster. So, um, while we're spending all this money, if the, the people are not educated, whether it's the community or the, uh, individuals that are working in our polls, uh, transparency and all that will go out the, go out the door. [0:43:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2617s) I- [0:43:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2617s) 'Cause it doesn't make any sense to spend all this money, do a- do all this talking, and training should be inside the bill. [0:43:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2623s) I, I, I agree, uh, th- with your concerns. I would suggest that what we're really going to is, uh, the ability for a voter to vote on a ballot that is a paper ballot that is a, um, s- is similar in content and design and execution as our current absentee balloting process. So the current absentee balloting process is the mechanism by which we vote early and on Election Day using print-on-demand ballots. [0:44:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2653s) A- and to your point, as far as, uh, uh, training, we have statutorily s- tasked the Secretary of State's office and their elections division with providing training guidelines. Uh, that is supplemented by their associ- the, uh, local election official asso- association, GAVRIO, that supports that. Our state election board promulgates the rules and how the elections are conducted. So, uh, this, this, uh, uh, bill envisions that process and procedure that's already in place. In addition to that, this year, this, uh, for the fiscal year '26 amended budget, we included $15 million in that budget to assist counties in preparing and ramping into the next election system and what, and, and a system in '26, uh, the '26 election cycle. [0:44:55](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2695s) And we're working with Appropriations right now to prefund the next uniform election system in the fiscal year '27, uh, amended, or not amended, but in the, in the full budget. That's, the, we're, we're in discussions with Appropriations right now to do that. [0:45:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2713s) Thank you. Uh, Representative Roberts. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Senator Burns, you and I don't always agree, but we have agreed on hand-marked paper ballots. Um, I'm just trying to figure out where in the bill it definitively says that this is gonna be a hand-marked paper ballot, and why are we delegating... I've heard so many bills where we talk about separation of powers, and we wanna make sure the legislators are legislating, and we're delegating the power to select the voting system solely to the secretary of state. [0:45:48](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2748s) I think if you look at s- I think section six. [0:45:58](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2758s) Let me verify that. The ballot itself is print-on-demand ballot marked by the elector. [0:46:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2767s) Can you give me a line number? I'm sorry. [0:46:09](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2769s) That's what I'm looking for. [0:46:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2770s) Okay. [0:46:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2770s) Maybe I'll ask Chairman Anderson to point me in the right place. [0:46:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2773s) Might be here too. [0:46:22](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2782s) I, I, I'll, I'll mention this. We do not specifically state in the bill hand-marked paper ballots, okay? Anywhere that refers to ballot-on-demand ballots, those have to be hand-marked. [0:46:36](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2796s) Those, those are hand-marked. [0:46:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2797s) Those are hand-marked. [0:46:39](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2799s) W- and why? Uh, explain that to me. [0:46:41](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2801s) Uh, the- [0:46:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2802s) Because it's gonna look like the absentee ballot is what you're saying. [0:46:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2804s) E- e- exactly. Exactly. [0:46:45](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2805s) So the only way to get that ballot is off of a ballot-on-demand printer? [0:46:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2809s) The, the, the, what we have envisioned for that is to do that from a ballot-on-demand printer. Now, we will still have, uh, this, the state election board has rules for emergencies, backups, and that sort of thing that require pre-printed ballots to be on hand, a, a certain number of them per precinct. Uh, that will still be in place. There will still be pre-printed ballots. But rather than, uh, put the state in a position where we have roughly 7 million, 5 to 7 million pre-printed ballots in the state that we have to track and maintain and ensure that we don't get the wrong ballot in the wrong hand, uh, we, we are, are proposing a ballot-on-demand printing system to where that ballot is generated at the time the voter or elector checks in and verifies who they are and that they are of, a, a legal voter in the State of Georgia. [0:47:38](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2858s) Then their ballot is printed at that time that they can take and mark. [0:47:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2863s) Um, may I follow up? Sure. Okay. One more question. [0:47:47](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2867s) Yeah. [0:47:48](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2868s) Okay. You what? Yeah. Four more? You ask. Uh, well, I just wanted to ask if any cybersecurity experts were consulted in this, because it seems like if you're setting a ballot-on-demand printer for lots of ballot styles, that there could be opportunity for there to be a risk there and also to inadvertently make a mistake on uploading a, a ballot. And so I just wondered if anyone was consulted on that particular- [0:48:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2894s) We, we, we- [0:48:15](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2895s) They had to- [0:48:15](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2895s) Yeah, go ahead. [0:48:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2896s) They had to be certified by EAC, all right? So the, um, electronic- [0:48:20](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2900s) The, the Election Assistance Commission [0:48:22](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2902s) ... Election Assistance Commission, it has to be certified for ballot-on-demand printing. And I think the most important thing is [0:48:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2907s) The elector can read their ballot, the elector marks their ballot, and the elector adjudicates their ballot, and that's a, that's a plus. That's assuming the voter knows exactly who all should be on their, their ballot- That's true. That's why- ... to, to determine that there's a mistake ... that's why to the chairman's point, um, why we're going to a ballot on demand option to ensure that the elector receives the correct ballot image. Um, I would say that other states have successfully utilized this approach. [0:48:58](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2938s) I believe Virginia and Florida have adopted this approach and, and it has been successful. Uh, and I would hope that given the timeframe we have, uh, we can make it even more successful in Georgia. I understand we need some at precincts. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have those, but, uh, to my knowledge and from the folks I've talked to, uh, ballot-on-demand printers aren't certified by the EAC or haven't been in the past. So just wanna let you know that. That, that is, that is being developed. Uh, the, the, the, this, this technology has been in place for a while and is utilized in some other states, as the senator mentioned, primarily in advanced voting locations because of the number of diff- different ballot styles required there. [0:49:41](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=2981s) Uh, but, uh, the, the, uh, the- Okay ... more and more supply is becoming available. All right. Uh, I just remind everybody we, we have 29 speakers, so if you could try to keep it to maybe one question, and I will give everyone the opportunity at the end. All right, thank you. Uh, Representative Sanchez. Thank you, Chair. Um, my main questions revolve around, um, Section 19. Um, [0:50:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3010s) why are we... Uh, line, starting line 404. Why are we removing the authority from an elected official, Secretary of State, um, for this ballot image audit pilot and moving it to the State Election Board, which is non, non-elected by the voters? I, I, I hear your question. I appreciate it. I think the issue is whether or not we get a, a, um, verified audit by a, an unaffiliated third party. So right now, the Secretary of State is responsible for the conducting the elections, they're responsible for tabulating the ballots, they're responsible for maintaining the, the, uh, voter rolls. [0:50:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3053s) But at the end of the day, after an election has occurred, in the past, they've also audited themselves. And I think the issue is to get a second perspective or a third party's review of that to confirm it. I, I do not think that it's good practice for an audit to be conducted by the same staff, the same organizational structure that actually does the operationalization and conducts the elections. [0:51:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3085s) Right. And just one follow-up, Chair. The, but do the, does the State Election Board even have the expertise to en- enter into contracts or conduct audits in the first place? I think that's a valid question. I think that's something that the State Election Board has got to work through in, with their, with their board. Thank you. [0:51:45](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3105s) Representative Bazemore. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the bill. Just, um, I'm gonna be quick. So you may have asked, answered this question earlier when you s- um, quoted some monies that were being allotted. So does that include the money that it's gonna take for these counties, uh, when it comes to the State Election Board, um, deciding where the storage is gonna be and the, and the printers, the ballot printers? Uh, the storage will be determined by the local county superintendents, and, uh, uh, we, again, we've allocated in the amended budget $15 million specifically earmarked for county support for that, and we're working on getting, uh, a larger funding package put together in the fiscal year '27 to assist in not only the purchase of the equipment, but in training, supplies, rollout, in order everything required to put a uniform system back in the s- in the State of Georgia. [0:52:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3163s) Thank you. If I might add, I think the committee needs to understand that our current system is nearing end of life. And so what we're looking at is transitioning from the current system to a new system with, with, uh, I, I believe a lower cost and a lower physical foot- footprint. So your storage requirements, your electrical power requirements are gonna be less than where we're, what we're expensing now. If you compare to the, the old, um, D-bolt system we had, if you recall years ago as we moved to the current system, it tended to be a, a, a smaller footprint with a more, uh, effective utilization of space and power. [0:53:26](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3206s) Yeah. Okay. All right. Representative Mary Margaret Oliver. Thank you. And thank you, gentlemen. I believe we have to do something. I appreciate the amount of work that's gone into this. Procedurally, what does it mean that the Senate has engrossed 214? Engrossment in the Senate refers to the fact that no floor amendments in the Senate can be made, and we do this routinely on finance bills and election bills only. [0:53:57](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3237s) And, uh, the, the reason there is to ensure that the committee of, of the work of the committee is not, uh, subverted on the floor of the Senate. When this bill comes back- It is already engrossed. So it, it, it, it was engrossed when it came out. If you send it back, it will be similarly- I inter- I, I would say the House, every bill in the House is engrossed. I interpret your- You just don't do it ... your answer- And you don't vote on it. [0:54:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3268s) I interpret your answer to be that what we pass today, the Senate will accept. That is, that is a- [0:54:36](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3276s) Probably an un- an inappropriate assumption. I, I would suggest that whatever you would send to the Senate, we would have to take under consideration and either agree with your position or disagree. If we did disagree, it would then go to conference. Engrossment- Does that not treat you? ... doesn't mean anything. Engrossment doesn't mean anything. Doesn't mean that we will agree with your position. It means that we will not change your position. [0:55:09](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3309s) We will either agree to it or we will disagree. Can't get any further. What, what... Okay. A- and if I may just add to that, that is one of the reasons that the senator and, and, and, and myself and, uh, actually several members in, at, uh, within Senate leadership and House leadership have been working together on this bill because we hope to get to a point, uh, many, uh, several other options have been attempted and, uh, and not achieved passage. And so, uh, we're, we're to the point to where, as stated, something has to be done. [0:55:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3342s) The alternative is it gets decided in courts probably, and the most, uh, likely option there would be a, uh, enjoyment of all the provisions of Senate Bill 189, and there's way too many things in there other than this that need to be preserved. Yeah. All right. Finally, last question, uh, Representative Adesanya. Um, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hey, um, Senator Burns, um, I too, um, have some concerns, um, that we're taking away the power from, um, the secretary of state and giving it to the State Election Board. [0:56:20](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3380s) Um, and you've mentioned that it's a separation of duty, but I, uh, if you look across many states, it should be the duty of the secretary of state to audit those, um, results. And, um, now we're taking that away, um, so will the audit process and the result be, um, made available to the public? Yes. So any audit review by either the State Election Board or a different entity would be public information. And just one short, quick follow-up. Um, does the State Election Board have the budget and financial resources to handle this? [0:56:58](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3418s) Uh, again, the, uh, we are working with the appropriations in both chambers right now to ensure that the State Election Board's, uh, funding is restored to the level requested. And in addition to that, the, uh, funding related to the conduct of the, the audit program that is currently allocated under the secretary of state's office. The State Election Board is a budget line item. Th- th- there's an item under the state el- uh, secretary of state's budget. So, uh, uh, that mon- those funds would be redirected to the secretary s- the, uh, State Election Board to help assist with that. [0:57:33](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3453s) Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. And given the time crunch, uh, I think it's a concern we, we ought to think about. Thank you. January 1st, 2028 is the implementation date of the legislation that we're considering. So we're looking about a year and six months, eight months, nine months. Thank you. Well, I want to thank the committee 'cause we hit exactly 20 minutes. So thank you. Thank you very much. [0:58:03](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3483s) All right. So again, we've got 29 speakers. Um, so here's, here's the, the position, I guess, the posture of the committee. We're, we have 10 for, nine against, seven I'm not sure what they're, where they stand, and three, I guess, that are neutral. So we're gonna go for and against, one for, one against. We'll call them in that order, and we'll get to anybody who's neutral or, uh, o- otherwise towards the end. So I'm just gonna give you a heads-up. Um, we're gonna start off, one for, Greater Georgia, Dylan Blitz, if you'd please feel free to come down. [0:58:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3522s) And with that being said, we have 29 speakers, so- Yeah ... I'm gonna give you a solid two minutes. I'm sorry, we're not gonna take questions for the speakers out of respect for time. Uh, you, uh, you have the floor. Thank you. Chairman and members of this committee. Y'all hear me now? Yeah. Thank you for the opportunity to address you here today. Uh, my name is Dylan Blitz, and I am a representative from Greater Georgia. I am here to speak in favor of Senate Bill 214. I do have an 18. For those of you who are unaware, Greater Georgia was established in 2021 by former US senator, here from Georgia, and now SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, and has focused heavily on advocating to protect the integrity of our elections in Georgia. [0:59:24](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3564s) The mandate in Senate Bill 189 to remove- Hey, Dylan, would you please speak into the mic? Oh, sorry. I thought I was. There we go. The mandate in, uh, Senate Bill 189 to remove QR codes from our ballots reflects a growing bipartisan recognition that Georgia must f- move forward on a more transparent voter verifiable system. At the beginning of the session, our organization outlined three non- negotiables that we felt would best position Georgia to eliminate QR codes. Our first one was a realistic timeline and full funding. [0:59:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3596s) Our second one was human-readable ballots and transparency. And our third one was proper time for election officials to prepare and implement. While the appropriations process is still underway, we find that the current draft of Senate Bill 214 meets all other requirements of our non-negotiables and encourages the legislator to ensure adequate funding to meet these o- objectives. We were optimistic that a solution would exist to eliminate QR codes in 2026. However, we recognize the complexities of accomplishing this and find that this bill does present a timeline that gives local elected, election officials proper time to adequately train, prepare, and put into action. [1:00:41](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3641s) In practice, voters can begin seeing ballots with human-readable, uh, text as early as 2027, and the state elections board will be a- will be empowered to ensure oversight in this year's election. Thank you for incorporating our organization's feedback and recommendations throughout the legislative drafting process. We believe that this legislation would enhance both ballot security and voter confidence in Georgia's elections. We commend this committee for tackling this important issue, and we look forward to working together with the hope of bipartisan solution. [1:01:15](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3675s) Thank you. [1:01:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3676s) Good job. [1:01:17](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3677s) Five seconds there, sir. [1:01:17](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3677s) Thank you. All right. Next on the list, Debbie Fisher. And [1:01:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3685s) so we're gonna hold everybody to two minutes, so... [1:01:32](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3692s) As she, as she starts, we'll- we'll start the clock again. [1:01:38](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3698s) Ms. Fisher, if you could, uh, let us know who you're with. [1:01:40](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3700s) Get it down to midget size here. [1:01:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3703s) Yeah. Yes, ma'am. [1:01:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3704s) Is that good? [1:01:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3704s) Be, be, be precise. Thank you. [1:01:48](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3708s) I had my notes based on yesterday's posted bill, so I'm going to deviate from my notes. But, um, first, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to speak. As a board member of the Cobb County Election Board, I would like to point out that, um, for future election bills, it would be great if you would give the same weight and the same consideration to election board members on the input on legislation. [1:02:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3745s) At the end of the day, it is us that oversees all elections. Number two, I do have significant concerns about the timeline. While we had two years when this was originally passed, 189, again, we have two years. What I didn't see in yesterday's bill is the total withdrawal or direction to election boards and election workers on the requirement to have the QR code gone, and I think that we're leaving a huge blank in that aspect with your, uh, language. [1:03:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3796s) Lastly, I will point out the concerns about the secretary overseeing an audit. I want to point out that they were very, that voters, election workers, just about everybody, was ke- very concerned with enhanced voting when they audited the, uh, images, the ballot images, and also reported the results. That might not be a good idea. [1:03:51](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3831s) Wonderful, thank you. You made this easy for me. I don't like cutting people off. [1:03:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3833s) Thank you. And I do really hope that you all will make a very strong clarification and direction as to what the election directors and boards are going to do come July 1st. [1:04:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3847s) Thank you. [1:04:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3847s) Yes. [1:04:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3848s) All right. Next on deck is gonna be s- Scott Turner, Eternal Vigilance Action, and then followed by Debbie Fisher. [1:04:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3856s) Janelle. [1:04:17](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3857s) I'm sorry, Janelle Clodfelter. Uh, you'll be right after that. [1:04:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3861s) She'll speak twice. [1:04:22](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3862s) You'll speak twice? We're gonna m- uh, mark Janelle off. [1:04:26](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3866s) Mark Janelle. [1:04:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3867s) Is, is, is she not... Is Janelle here? Okay. Absolutely. Sit right here. Uh, I almost called you Representative Turner. Sorry about that. [1:04:35](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3875s) That still works. [1:04:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3877s) Former Representative Turner. [1:04:39](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3879s) Yeah. [1:04:39](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3879s) All right. So, uh, by all means. [1:04:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3882s) Thank you. Uh, I just want to commend the committee on their work on this piece of legislation. I know a lot of work has gone into this. Uh, I'll j- and for those who don't remember, back in 2016, I began working on this very goal, and I joined with State Representative H- Scott Holcomb. We drafted HB 680 in 2018, 2019, and in 2019, uh, is when we had HB 316. And I am the only Republican in either chamber who voted against that bill because I said at the time, "Nobody's gonna trust a QR code." And I tried to work across the aisle and get that bill th- that Scott Holcomb and I worked on passed together, but the legislature wanted to go in a different direction. [1:05:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3927s) And just for a little bit of historical reference, that year I had two bills in Rules, and the Rules chairman made it very clear to me in no uncertain terms, in very plain language, that if I voted against HB 316, he would kill both of my bills in Rules. I still cast that vote. There is absolutely nobody that you will meet who wants this more than me. There may be some that want it as much, but not more, and there's nobody as willing to pay a political price for it more than me either. And I say that because I'm very proud of the work that you all have, are doing on this and bringing this to fruition after a decade of work of pushing for it. [1:06:04](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3964s) You may get some feedback that the, the date for getting away from the QR codes is sort of a retreat. You may have been getting emails to that effect, and I'm here to tell you, after having worked on this for 10 years, this is the most responsible thing that you can do. Having this timeline and this bill is the responsible way to govern, and I just want to applaud you and support you and thank you for that work. [1:06:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=3991s) All right. Thank you, Mr. Turner. All right. Uh, next on deck's gonna be Joseph Kirk. If you could please make your way up to the front, and I'll recognize, uh, you, Ms. Clodfelter. [1:06:41](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4001s) Thank you. [1:06:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4003s) First of all, I want to thank-- Actually, I want to pay the pipers who've actually worked hard to secure my vote. There are so few of you. I was here five years ago trying to get rid of these machines. I was at sign-e-die, and I was told by the legislators, "Don't be mad at us. We'll get it taken care of next year." The next year, you actually-- Two years later, you actually got 189, and I was elated. [1:07:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4034s) I was gonna get my paper ballots. Then the FBI comes to town, and they solidify that there's a problem, a big problem, and that you've been given a lot of that information by the people in this room. They've researched, they've worked hard, they've crunched the numbers, and it's not right. And then you come in with this bill, and this bill has 50 million machines in it, and right now we can't turn on an infrared counterfeit detector because we're afraid of a paper jam. [1:07:51](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4071s) We need paper ballots, hand marked, hand count. And for heaven's sake, why not save us a boatload of money? And my last question, are all of those machines that you are proposing proprietary? Thank you. All right, thank you. So as I call each of you, just try to walk around the back and sit in the other chair. Got it. It's just to k- again, try to keep things, uh, e- as expeditious as possible. [1:08:23](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4103s) Absolutely. Um, so let's see. It's Mr. Kirk. Uh, next on deck is Tamara Favorito. If you'd please kind of work your way over to that seat, and I'll recognize you. Mr. Kirk, thank you. Thank you very much. My name is Joseph Kirk. I'm the, um, our election supervisor from Bartow County, as well as the current president of the Georgia Association of Election Officials. Um, I have some of my members here with me today, um, from, from Heard, Chatham, Wounds, Glenn, Paulding, Forsyth, DeKalb. Um, Cobb is here. [1:08:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4133s) Um, and the folks who are here with me are here to speak in support of this bill. I just want to take a moment to say thank you for working with us, for including us in the process, for addressing so many of our concerns. Chairman Anderson, Chairman Burns, just really, really appreciate it. And, um, some of my members will get up here in a second and g- to speak to s- supports the bill. I just wanted to stand up and say thank you. All right. Th- thank you very much. Um, Deidre Holden, you're next on deck, and I will go ahead and recognize you, uh, Ms. Favorito. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:09:24](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4164s) Tamara Favorito, board member of Voter GA, and we represent about twenty thousand supporters and followers. We supported Chairman Burns' original SB 214, which promised to implement hand-marked paper ballots in lieu of the unverifiable QR code by 2026. We supported this year's Senate Bill 568, which had significant, real improved election security provisions, such as audits of federal races and the top four statewide races, and a hand recount in close races having less than 1% margin of victory. [1:10:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4202s) We also supported the House Blue Ribbon Study Committee recommendation to simply hand count the text of QR-coded ballots to avoid all the legal and verifiability issues. We still think that's a simple and clever solution to a complex problem for 2026, because it required no new equipment and conforms to existing Georgia law. Our benchmarks show that if properly resourced, all ballots can be hand-counted and reconciled with 100% accuracy on election night. [1:10:32](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4232s) However, we cannot now support this substitute because it not only forces Georgia voters to continue voting on the unverifiable QR code in '26, but it has no security provision whatsoever, even though Voter GA submitted an illustrated 80-page document with our security recommendations. This bill continues to propagate secretly counted elections on secret proprietary software for a new system starting in 2028. [1:11:04](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4264s) This has really become a vendor's bill, not a voter's bill at this point. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, let's see. So we've had Mark Cook. Mr. Cook, I know you've r- uh, I know you're gonna be n- next on deck. I know you've asked to do that, but we're not gonna be able to do it in a two-minute timeframe. So if you can, uh, just please give your testimony verbally- ... I'd appreciate it. I can do it really quick too. Okay. Well, you'll be next on deck. But for right now, I recognize Ms. Holden. You skipped me. I didn't skip you. I'm just skipping around. [1:11:35](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4295s) Oh. All right. By all means, ma'am. Thank you. Uh, my name's Deidre Holden. I'm the election director for Paulding County. I've worked in elections for, um, 22 years. I've seen systems come and go. Um, but I, um, I served on the safe commission when, um, this system was selected, and I also currently serve, um, on the United States Election Assistance Commission as the local leadership council. And being in these positions, I have seen a lot of different technology and things that have happened. [1:12:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4328s) Um, so I want to say that I do support this bill. I know that you all have worked very hard on this bill. Um, this is something that is setting us up for success and not failure. The timeline was my biggest concern. Um, and I just-- I want to say this, I know that this job is not easy for any of you. Um, I'm a praying woman, so know that you all have been prayed for, the House and the Senate, all of the election directors, but mostly our voters, because it's our duty to serve our voters and to serve them well. [1:12:41](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4361s) And, um, I don't like confusion when it comes to our voters. Uh, one of the representatives here spoke about voter education and training. That is of the utmost importance. We need to train our people and train them well. [1:12:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4376s) Senator Burns spoke about this being a journey, and I don't think any of us would take off on a journey without preparing well for it. So I believe that we have prepared, you all have prepared us for this with this legislation. Uh, in Paulding County, we do a 100% audit because we want to prove our work to people, and that has turned out well for us. Um, there should be no secrets in elections. We should have everything out there for our voters and for the public to see because we are a representation of you all and what you all do. [1:13:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4408s) So I just wanted to thank you for this. I think this will work for us, and I thank you for the opportunity to be able to speak. [1:13:35](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4415s) Absolutely. Thank you for, for your words. Um, next on deck is gonna be Brooke. Uh, I'm sorry, this is kind of, s- Sh- Schreiner? Is that? [1:13:46](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4426s) Yeah. [1:13:46](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4426s) Okay, great. Yeah, you, you'll be next on deck. Um, uh, Mr. Cook, I recognize you. [1:13:51](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4431s) I appreciate it. My name is Mark Cook. I'm an election cybersecurity subject matter expert in threat assessment and mi- common sense mitigation. I've been working on elections solid, nonstop for about six years now. I have been working in the IT industry for 40 years. I have intrinsic knowledge that would be really important for people to understand. I have evidence right here that I was hoping to show you that can show there are absolutely, I know you guys have heard this, but I've got the proof right here, back doors built in to electronic voting systems that allow flipping, changing of votes, infiltrating the system, all built in, set up in a way that makes it easy and untraceable. [1:14:39](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4479s) I can demonstrate this to you even while I'm still here in this building. I'm happy to do so. The testing labs all miss this, then they're blindly certified, and then we're told, it's shoved down our throats that everything is safe and secure. It's absolutely not. We're being lied to from the very top. The whole thing is built on a pyramid of lies, and we have to stop living these lies. I will educate you. I can show you guys the problems, not, no issue. I'm happy to do so. But we have to be-- we have to approach this in a common sense form here. [1:15:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4514s) We have to be smart about what we're doing. If we're gonna make a change, we need to make a change that's actually gonna solve the problem and not kick the can down the road, and again, take the control of elections away from where elections belong, which is in the people's hands. And this is not complicated to solve. We're literally filling dots out on paper. We're counting the dots, adding the dots up, and whoever has the most dots wins. That's the entire scope of our elections. So having to use computerized systems to count dots and add the dots up is the most ridiculous waste of money and theft of the very essence of us being American citizens and having a voice that I've ever seen in my life. [1:15:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4556s) So thank you all very much. I appreciate it. [1:15:59](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4559s) Thanks, Mr. Cook. And if, if I may, um, you know the members of the committee, I, I'd recommend that maybe if you could send it out, whatever evidence that you have- [1:16:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4567s) I'm happy to. [1:16:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4568s) If you can email it to the members. [1:16:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4568s) And I, I'm here for today and tomorrow. I'm happy to sit down with anyone and show you firsthand so you can see with your own eyes. [1:16:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4573s) Wonderful. Thank you, Mr.- [1:16:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4574s) Thank you, guys. I appreciate it. [1:16:15](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4575s) All right, uh, received. Uh, Mr. Favorito, you'll be next on deck. And, uh, Brooke, I recognize you. [1:16:23](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4583s) Thank you. My name is Brooke Schreiner. I am with Chatham County, the Board of, of Elections director. I am also a Gavrio member and a Region 11 res- facilitator region leader. I want to thank you all, the committee, uh, for the opportunity to speak today. I want to begin expressing, uh, appreciation for your inclusion of local election officials on the advisory committee with two seats for two different size county representatives on the committee tasked with selecting Georgia's next voting system. [1:16:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4613s) That is a meaningful and necessary step. The individuals who administrate, administer elections every day bringing practical real world insight in that works, what doesn't, and what is sustainable across different jurisdictions. Ensuring that all county sizes have a voice in this process will lead to more informed decisions, better implementa- implementations, and ultimately greater confidence in the system statewide. Thank you again for, for your consideration of this in, in our continuing work from the Georgia election workers and board members. [1:17:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4647s) Well, thank you very much for your testimony. I, I greatly appreciate you all being here today. [1:17:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4651s) Thank you. [1:17:32](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4652s) Uh, I see next on deck is gonna be Rachel Glover with the ACLU. And, um, Mr. Favorito, I recognize you. [1:17:38](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4658s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, the-- I want to talk about five security provisions that need to be in this ballot since we're-- Mark and Tamara were talking about the security issues that exist. The substitute authorizes ballot on demand printing, but it has no ballot identifier to help detect fraudulently printed and duplicated ballots. Senate Bill 568 has that language, uh, and that you can include a ballot batch identifier with or without BOD. That needs to be in the bill. 21-2-372 gives you that, uh, language. [1:18:11](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4691s) If the, uh, BOD printer fails on election day, voters cannot vote. So on line 28, the definition should limit BODs to early voting, or you have to have, uh, pre-printed forms to cover all election day voters. This, uh, BODs failed in Arizona. Thousands of voters were disenfranchised, and it changed the outcome of the 2022 governor's race. Uh, moving to line 113, if anyone's interested, uh, that allows secretly counted elections to continue. [1:18:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4722s) A simple fix after the words election equipment on line 113 would be to add the words and non-proprietary software. We don't want more secretly counted elections. Uh, if a vendor relies on proprietary software, they have no business selling a system here in Georgia The pro- on line 130, the proposed advisory committee for the future voting system has no cybersecurity expert and no election integrity expert. The two appointments on line 130 need to have that expertise. [1:19:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4753s) And then finally, on line 408, uh, it proposes to audit ballot images instead of actual ballots. The word images need to be scratched to conform to the header. We've already found images that were altered prior to the certification of election results, and the substitute also needs to have 568 audit and recount provisions so all major races are audited, and recounts for close elections are not just reprints of previous unverifiable results. [1:19:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4784s) Thank you. [1:19:45](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4785s) Uh, thank you, Mr. Favretto. Okay, let's see here. I got a little, a little thrown off here. Uh, right, so, uh, Rachel. [1:19:54](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4794s) Yes. [1:19:55](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4795s) By all means. [1:19:55](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4795s) Thank you. [1:19:55](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4795s) And then we're gonna move to the next page here. Sorry, there's a lot going on. So, uh, let's see. The next is Autumn Miller. It will be next, but I recognize you- [1:20:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4807s) Thank you [1:20:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4807s) ... R- Miss Rachel. Thank you. [1:20:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4808s) All right. Good afternoon. My name is Rachel Glover with the Voter Access Project of the ACLU of Georgia. [1:20:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4816s) And I am so sorry. I just realized I have the wrong testimony pulled up, which I know is cutting into my own... [1:20:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4825s) If you- [1:20:26](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4826s) Okay. I have it. Sorry. Thank you. [1:20:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4828s) Ab- ab- I'll tell you what. [1:20:30](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4830s) Late my pregnancy brain. [1:20:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4831s) We'll, we'll give everyone a bit of- [1:20:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4831s) Um- [1:20:32](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4832s) ... of discretion. We'll, we're gonna start your clock over. [1:20:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4834s) Thank you. [1:20:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4834s) And let's start from the beginning. All right, go ahead. [1:20:36](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4836s) Um, thank you, Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Rachel Glover, and I'm the associate director at the Voter Access Project at the ACLU of Georgia, which works to ensure voting is easy and accessible for every Georgian. We appreciate the changes made to Senate Bill 214 that address some of the practical challenges created by the passage of SB 189 in two, in 2024. SB 189 required the removal of the QR codes by July 2026, but did not address funding needs or include a clear implementation plan. County election officials have constantly said that timeline was not realistic given the need to procure equipment, develop procedures, train staff and poll workers, and fully test new systems. [1:21:17](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4877s) In that context, the SB 214 substitute is a constructive step. Extending the implementation deadline to January 1st, 2028 provides needed time for planning and transition. Just as importantly, the bill continues to recognize and protect accessibility requirements by ensuring that electronic ballot markers remain available for voters with disabilities at every polling location and advanced voting site. We also appreciate that the ballots printed by accessible voting equipment would be in the same format as ballots used by other voters. That is an important protection. [1:21:48](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4908s) Ballots should not be distinguishable based on whether a voter used accessible equipment, and we want to ensure that the advisory committee tasked with developing the new system keeps that principle front and center so that every voter's ballot remains private and indistingu- indistinguishable, um, in the tabulation process. At the same time, we want to acknowledge that this proposal is not a complete solution. One of the largest outstanding issues is funding. Transitioning a new system that removes QR codes will require significant investment in new scanners, printers, and related infrastructure. [1:22:19](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4939s) While SB 214 clarifies that the state is responsible for furnishing the new uniform voting system, there still needs to be clear commitment and transparency about how these costs will be funded, and it is essential that cou- counties are not left bearing the financial burden. Ultimately, um, I will end there. Thank you. [1:22:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4957s) Uh, abs- Thank you, Ms., Ms. Glover. Okay, uh, Chris, uh, I'm gonna say that's, uh, Chanel. Uh, you're gonna be next on deck. And Ms. Miller, I recognize you. [1:22:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=4969s) Thank you so much. Um, so for two years we've been hearing about, you know, that trying to enact this absence of a QR code on our ballots is too soon, too rushed, and I'm here just as a voter concerned about the integrity of my ballot and whether or not it's getting cast properly. And I'm just wondering, when is there going to be substance behind our legislation? [1:23:20](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5000s) When are people going to take it seriously? Clearly, the Secretary of State was totally unconcerned with enacting the law that you passed, and here we are, and we're kicking the, the can down the road another two years. And I can just imagine that next session they're gonna be saying, "Oh, it's just too soon to try to get it ready by 2028." So I, I, I don't trust this. And yesterday I was very alarmed when I watched the Fulton County BRE meeting in which they decided that you have a law that says we can only have one drop box per 100,000 voters, so we have seven drop boxes here in Fulton County, but they decided, well, drop bags aren't prevented by the law. [1:24:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5048s) So now, they voted yesterday, we're gonna have, in addition to our seven drop boxes, at 22 other advanced li- voting locations for three weeks, we're gonna have drop bags that any voter can go and take their ballot to. So the heck with the seven drop boxes that y'all said that that's the limit. And they're also going to be removing all of the ballots from each of the scanners every day, whether or not there's 1,500, uh, votes in there. [1:24:39](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5079s) And do you trust Fulton County to be driving... 70% of all of our votes in each election are cast during advanced voting now. They're gonna be just driving around with all of these every day. I don't trust this. When can we get our elections back? What can we do as a voter to get these QR codes off? And have a good election. Thank you. [1:25:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5107s) Thank you, Ms. Miller. Um, so next on deck is gonna be, uh, what is it? Lucia f- Lucia Frazier. And, uh, we'll go ahead and recognize you. Uh, uh, uh, saying, it looks like Chanel. Is that pr- [1:25:22](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5122s) Channel. [1:25:22](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5122s) Channel. Okay. [1:25:23](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5123s) My name's Christopher Channel. I'm the Director of Elections and Voter Registration in Glynn County, Georgia. Back on February 2nd, I drove up five, uh, hours, almost six hours, to speak to you about that, uh, substitute for 214, and I'm back today to talk about this one. Totally different, uh, perspective, though. Um, well, I'm here to talk about the appropriate funding and, and making sure that the Secretary of State's office and the SCB is given the appropriate funding to implement this bill. Uh, I also wanted to address some of the comments that the, uh, representatives had made. [1:25:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5156s) Uh, as far as the training, back in 2020 when we rolled out the new system, we had from December to March to have that in place and implemented, and this gives us a much greater time than, than we had then. And then, uh, some of the concerns, we had a lot of poll workers that we had trained, but we lost due to COVID, that chose not to work those elections. And then, uh, one thing we did in Glynn County is we actively went out to many of our civic organizations and showed them the equipment, let them touch it and test it and, and stuff. [1:26:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5188s) So this gives us the timeframe to do that in this bill. Uh, also, there was a concern about, uh, somebody getting the proper ballot, uh, being issued to them with the ballot on demand printers. That all come p- with ballot proofing prior to the election, uh, accr- the logic and accuracy testing that we do on our equipment to make sure that the, the r- correct ballot is getting issued to the appropriate individuals. So, uh, if you guys have any questions, that'd, uh, be f- great to just direct them to us. Um, I do encourage that you guys support this bill and pass it on to the House. [1:27:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5222s) Thank you. [1:27:03](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5223s) Thank you. All right. So, um, Vasu Abhiraman, you will be next on deck, and I'll go ahead and recognize you, Ms. Frazier. [1:27:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5233s) Thank you. Lucia Frazier. Um, I really do appreciate the work that you guys have been doing this. I know it's been a long ride, and we've been, um, talking and brainstorming about a lot of things. Um, [1:27:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5247s) our current voting system is not secure, so that's, that's just out there. It's what it is. Um, I understand everybody's worried about implementing new processes. Um, but there is something we can do right now. Change nothing else, just add this. Just keep all the equipment and just have hand tally at the precinct level. Um, have faith in your citizens. You should. It's our election. We should be doing this. We used to be doing this. Um, the citizens would be very proud to count and tally at their own precincts, and they are the ones who get to certify in their own precinct. [1:28:04](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5284s) Like, this is, this is what I did, and I'm gonna verify it. And it can be done. You just size the precincts correctly, and you have, you have... You only need one to 2% of the voting population in there to help, and it can be done. And we can just do that, and we can just see that it matches the machine, and I think everybody would be happy with that. And I guarantee people would come out and help. Like, if they were able to do that, I think they would be proud to come and help and do that. So don't worry about getting people to do it. [1:28:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5314s) Um, I really... Somebody said the most responsible thing you could do. I would say this is the next most responsible thing you could do with this. Um- [1:28:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5323s) It's even more responsible [1:28:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5324s) ... and I also wanna say that implementing a new process, um, even though we're kicking it down the road, I appreciate that you're doing this. Um, but it can be done quickly. Um, Dominion was implemented very quickly apparently, and it was really complicated from the system before. So I know that it can be implemented if people want to, and this is a direction of goodness, so when people wanna do it, they'll do it. So I definitely don't appreciate the people that keep complaining about we don't have enough time. I, I'm pretty sure we, if we put our minds to it, we can do it. [1:29:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5354s) Um, and just a couple things on the current bill. I do appreciate, um, the audits in the SCV is a good thing, and it's good to have the paper ballot as the official. Thank you very much. [1:29:26](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5366s) Thank you, Ms. Fra- Frazier. I appreciate that. Uh, next on deck is gonna be Rosario, uh, Palacios. Hopefully I said that right. And, uh, uh, Vasu, I, I recognize you. [1:29:38](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5378s) Thank you so much. Um, esteemed members of the committee, my name is Vasu Abhiraman. I'm the vice chair of the DeKalb County Board of Elections, and I'm also a Georgia Tech graduate. Definitely sucking up there. [1:29:52](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5392s) I'm not, so I won't- ... hold that against you. [1:29:54](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5394s) I went to UGA for law school- ... so pick one. Um, I wanted to express my deep appreciation for the fact that you listened to local elections officials and understood that an overhaul mid-cycle here was going to be untenable. Um, I can talk from DeKalb County's perspective. We just ran a special election last week. We have a runoff next month. Then we have the primary on May 19th. Then we have the runoff on June 16th. That's four straight months before what would have been a massive overhaul of the system. [1:30:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5427s) It wouldn't have made sense, and I really appreciate that you listened to local officials talking about the practical considerations of implementing something mid-cycle like this. We have 280 ballot combos for the fall and 432 ballot styles. This is a big overhaul that has been proposed, and I think the timeline for implementing it seems to be reasonable. The devil is gonna be in the details, and I implore this committee to continue working to make sure those details are correct. Thank you. [1:30:57](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5457s) Thank you, Mr. Abhiraman. Uh, let's see. N- next on deck will be, um, Michael Beach, and I recognize you, Ms.... I, I'm assuming I'm saying this right. Ms. Palacios? [1:31:11](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5471s) Yes. [1:31:12](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5472s) Thank you. [1:31:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5474s) Um, thank you. Uh, thank you, Chairman. Thank you, uh, members of the committee for, um, having me today. Uh, my name is Rosario Palacios. I'm the executive director of Common Cause Georgia. Common Cause Georgia is one of the oldest, uh, nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations in the state, uh, with over 55 years doing work, um, in voting rights and government accountability. I want to express foremost, uh, the gratitude for, uh, provisions of the bill that, uh, seem to be just really excellent, especially as a, a, a mother with young children still, um, the accessibility features, uh, for folks with, uh, someone that's less than the age of two. [1:31:52](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5512s) Um, and then the advisory committee as well is, is a wonderful move that I'm excited about. The concerns that we have remaining as an organization is in shifting more authority to the state election board, and there's, uh, two provisions there that we, uh, still have questions and concerns on. In the latest substitute, LC 47, four- 4253S, uh, we saw that the state election board has, uh, increased authority in two areas. The first one is in the custody and storage standards. We want to make sure that our elections are protected, um, that storage standards are not being controlled by a politically contested board, and that rather we have a neutral administrative practice in place. [1:32:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5551s) Secondly, on the OCR audits, um, because of the audit pilot that this SOS was overseeing, moving that to the SEB raises questions for us on who's gonna set, uh, the audit pro- protocols? Who's gonna control the timing? How do we prevent audits from becoming a vehicle for political pressure or public confusion? Um, we know that y'all have done wonderful work around this, and we'd love to continue working with you on this more. Um, and so we hope that you don't expand those provisions to the state election board. [1:33:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5582s) We hope you continue to look for guardrails that protect privacy, security, and retention, and that is my humble ask of you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, Victoria Cruz, you're next on deck. Mr. Beach, you're recognized. Thanks. Hello, I'm Michael Beach, uh, poll manager from DeKalb County. I'd like to th- thank you all for, uh, revising this version, the current version that I see. It seems like, um, the Rolling Stones song is really adequate here, I think. You can't get everything you want, but I certainly see this as a win-win interpretation with the current version so that some folks get hand-marked ballots, some folks get rid of hand tabulation, and, uh, that have been dropped. [1:33:46](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5626s) Extending the QR code transition deadline so it can be done without creating election chaos is also a critical change in my mind. However, please avoid creating another self-induced crisis, as we've heard, by getting a fiscal impact note and appropriating adequate funds to make this happen by the new deadline. I think that's critical. A few comments about the current version. I, I would just say that changing state policy based on cutting out a single individual is not really a viable long-term strategy for getting free and fair elections, particularly when the individual won't be secretary of state after this year. [1:34:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5661s) Using this strategy to assign all audit duties to the now hyper-partisan state election board while continuing the exclusion of the secretary of state from SEB membership will likely result in further dysfunction, legal battles, and unacceptable solutions to critical issues for voters. Also, if you could please try and post upcoming versions sooner to enable more review time before s- sine die. Um, I've heard a lot of negative comments about this, and I said, "What version were you looking at?" And it seems like they had an older version. [1:34:55](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5695s) Um, my last point is really to please let this be a clean bill without trying to add in new wording from other failed bills or unhappy constituents that can lead to more voter disenfranchisement. And as per Chair Burns' aviation analogy here, let's land this plane, but not open the doors to let on unwanted passengers before we land. Thank you so much. [1:35:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5721s) Uh, you must be a politician. You timed that perfect. Um, so Janet Grant, you are on deck, and Ms. Cruz, I recognize you, please. Yes. I'm Victoria Cruz, a retired physician from Oconee County, Georgia. I oppose this bill mostly because of the timeline and the fact that certain, uh, critical components of our election system that are at, at risk have not been addressed. Kicking the can down the road puts the 2026 midterms at risk with a, an extremely vulnerable system that can be, like Mark Cook said, entered without anybody noticing that it happened. [1:36:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5767s) Uh, the votes can be changed. But we're also not also addressing another elephant in the room, which is our mail voting and our dirty voter rolls. The secretary of state is simply not credible, and he is not giving our voter rolls to the DOJ. These voter rolls allow for unlimited access to mail ballots, whether that voter exists or not. There are entities in the states that do use those phantom voters and, uh, ineligible registrations that remain on those voter rolls to vote ballots. [1:36:48](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5808s) That is how elections are taken. If you had monitored the Texas primaries at all, you will see that the electronic databases of the voter registration system have been compromised. Thousands of ineligible votes, voters were put in there with ineligible registrations. And so, I, we have not-- The electronic poll books allow for this, as well as maintaining the, the systems like we do here in the cloud. [1:37:18](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5838s) That's not been addressed [1:37:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5841s) Limit early voting to one week only. We have too much early voting. Early voting is also being used by non-gov- governmental organ- organizations to monitor the results. It's easy to do. Candidates know how to do it, and we need to address that issue. Uh, 2026 is on you all. What happens is on you all. [1:37:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5864s) I would disagree with that. I think that's the will of the voters. But I, I, I'll go ahead and recognize you, uh, Ms. Cruz. [1:37:51](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5871s) Janet Grant. [1:37:51](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5871s) I'm sorry, Ms. Cruz. Miss Grant. [1:37:54](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5874s) Hi, my name's Janet Grant, and I'm an area poll manager in DeKalb County. Um, I really appreciate the balance that has been struck in this latest bill version, um, heeding the recommendations from election officials with the ask, um, balancing with the asks from the various advocacy perspectives. The timeline of January of 2028 does give adequate time to procure the on-demand ballot printers, which are critical for the SEB to develop and issue the supporting election rules to pilot potentially during 2027 and for the critical im- um, training of poll workers. [1:38:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5911s) A rushed implementation would just bring significant unnecessary risk. Um, I know, and you're hearing it today, advocacy is out there for hand-counting. Hand-counting not only introduces the significant risk of hum- human error, it's also more costly and delays the reporting of results. Across the country, only .17% of voters live in districts that use hand-counting. An academic study which evaluated the accuracy of hand-counting found that just f- or that 46.7% of ballot counting teams provided incorrect counts for at least one race. [1:39:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5950s) In DeKalb County, for several years, we counted just the number of ballots in each polling place and found all those inconsistencies were due to human error. The scanner result was the correct result every time. [1:39:24](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5964s) Yep. [1:39:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5965s) I ask that you resist this demand for hand-counting, which would not enhance but rather threaten confidence in results. Thank you. [1:39:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5974s) All right. Thank you, Mrs. Grant. So that concludes those who are for and against. Um, I would ask that anybody that is, uh, what we would say neutral, that if you'd be willing to wave to give us a little bit more opportunity, I would appreciate it. Uh, with that being said, I'm gonna start off with, uh, uh, Blake Evans with the Secretary of State's office. You are recognized, and we will just go straight down the list. [1:39:59](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=5999s) And then let's see, next on deck will be Earl Ferguson. [1:40:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6013s) All right. Thank y'all. Um, I won't take too long, but it's nice to see y'all this afternoon. Um, first, I wanna just thank y'all for the, um, I know y'all put in, I saw some of it firsthand, the, the, uh, time, a lot of time, energy, and effort, um, into the bill. I wanna thank y'all for the timeline that you have given, uh, election officials for the implementation of this. I think it's something that's gonna, uh, set the state up for success. And it has been something that's referenced before with the passage of Senate Bill 189 in, in 2024. [1:40:46](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6046s) It has been worked on for a long time. We've had deliberations, um, as early as October 2024. We were submitting budget requests to be able to upgrade the current system so that it was in compliance with 189, but it's become obvious o- over the years that, uh, that there's wanted to be a different direction. And so as we sit with this bill in front of us, um, I wanna thank you, uh, for the, the timeline that you have given for implementation. Just a couple of quick things, um, for, for your consideration on it. [1:41:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6076s) On section 15, uh, there's on line 180, um, line 326, uh, there's the phrase other error when talking about potentially having the scanner reject a ballot or give it back to the voter, uh, for consideration. You may wanna consider replacing that with blank ballot, because I think that might be what you wanna get at there is if the voter's confused and they're submitting a blank ballot, you wanna give them the opportunity, uh, to review it again. [1:41:47](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6107s) And then on section 19, uh, lines 412 through 414, uh, that is the, uh, section that is referring to the second count that we typically conduct. So after an election, we conduct a second count, uh, that includes the human readable text on the ballot, uh, using optical character recognition. Um, I would recommend taking away, uh, the last sentence of that section, uh, that is being added and essentially, uh, allowing us to continue to do that so that in May we can rely on the human readable text, uh, as a second count, um, before we certify the election, uh, using the QR code tabulation. [1:42:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6151s) So thank y'all very much. Again, thank you for your time. [1:42:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6154s) Uh, thank you, Mr. Evans. Okay, next on deck's gonna be Kristen Neighbors. And, um, let's see. And Mr. Ferguson, I recognize you. Go. [1:42:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6164s) I'm Earl Ferguson. I'm a resident and a li- a, a elector in Fulton County. Uh, we cannot have fair and accurate elections with the Dominion machines. For 150 years, we counted votes by hand. Then came the machines with a promise of fast and accurate election results. We bit, and now we have a system that cannot trust. We asked for the removal of QR codes so we could verify our selections two years ago. We were promised that, and now the, uh, the secretary of state didn't do anything, so we're faced with another year, maybe more, and, and we object. [1:43:24](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6204s) Well, while we were arguing for the change, we learned about the Dominion machines. They cannot be trusted. In fact, they can support frauds. So we want fair and accurate elections, we'll have to go back to manual processing, recruiting and, and training a small s- a, and a non-partisan army to do so. Um, and I'm volunteering to participate in that and assist in Fulton County. I note in the, uh, um, report of the standing committee that it says, "Legislation should require all ballots that are c- that contain a QR code of any kind to be hand-counted." And I would like very much for that to happen, and I do not see that that is in what is proposed here. [1:44:17](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6257s) Thank you. [1:44:18](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6258s) Uh, th- thank you. Y'all, uh, here's where we're at. I got a, a 30 minutes left and we have a little bit of debate left to do. I, I'm gonna have to cut this down to one minute each- [1:44:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6267s) And I'll- [1:44:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6267s) ... and you all are neutral [1:44:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6268s) Nope. [1:44:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6269s) So. [1:44:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6269s) No problem. [1:44:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6269s) All right. [1:44:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6269s) I'm Kristen Nabors. I'm the state director for All Voting Is Local action. I'm gonna talk super fast. I wanna thank the authors for a clean bill. It's clear you listened to the, especially to the election officials who came in and talked to you, and talked about how hard it was gonna be to implement by November, so I really appreciate that. Um, you know, never should've happened, but I think we all agree that, you know, if we could go back in time, you know. But I, I really appreciate this elegant solution to an in- inelegant problem. Um, I was really happy to see that the bill includes the creation of the bipartisan committee to choose the new system, especially because it includes the two election officials. [1:45:03](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6303s) These are the folks who run these elections year in and year out. They carry out their very technical job in a very non-partisan way, and they're exactly who I would want to be selecting the new system, so thank you for including them. Um, my one concern, uh, is about, uh, section 18, which makes images of the cast vote records and system log files public on the Secretary of State website. Most people have no idea how to interpret those files, including many people who will claim that they do. Um, so re- releasing that level of data so publicly could give rise to more armchair investigations- ... [1:45:33](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6333s) could lead to the spread of misinformation, but it's a positive bill. Please vote yes. Thank you. [1:45:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6337s) Thank you very much. Okay. Kaylon Day, David Worley, please come down and we're gonna speak very quickly. Uh, Kaylon, the second you hit the mic. [1:45:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6349s) Yeah. Thank you, Committee. Thank you, Chairman. I'll be really brief. Kaylon Day with ACCG. Just wanted to rise quickly to give so much appreciation to everyone in the room who's listened to the stakeholders, especially our election officials. There was two things needed, the resources and a good implementation timeline. We did not have that before this bill, so we greatly appreciate it. And again, for the neutral stance, we just haven't had a chance to get this to our policy council for the support vote, so thank you so much. Have a good one. [1:46:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6374s) Well done. [1:46:18](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6378s) Ms. Battles, you're up. Wait. No, you're, you're on deck. Okay. Uh, Mr. Worley. Okay. Mr. Worley, I recognize you. Please. Okay. [1:46:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6387s) David Worley. Uh, for 17 years I was a member of the Georgia State Election Board. Neutral about the bill. Really opposed to section 19, which gives effective immediately the authority to the State Election Board to conduct audits. Testimony at the blue ribbon committee, chaired by Mr. Fleming, was universal in showing how dysfunctional the State Election Board was. [1:46:57](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6417s) The- [1:46:57](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6417s) Hey, hey, hey, hey. No. [1:46:59](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6419s) Uh, Mr. Fleming himself said that it was, it showed troubling instances of dysfunction, bombast and grandstanding. They have no ability to conduct an audit. They have no staff to conduct an audit. But this provision gives them the authority to do audits starting with the primary nine weeks from now. I hope you have an a- an amendment to take that power away from them- ... and I hope you take that opportunity. [1:47:30](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6450s) All right. Thank you very much. Uh, it looks like one of our last speakers. Joel, uh, I'm not, I'm not sure if that's N-A-T-I or N-A-T-T, so, but I think you know who you are. Come on down. Ms. Battles, you're recognized. [1:47:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6462s) Um, thank you, Committee. I will bypass all of my big appreciation for all of the work that has gone into this bill in order to have more time. Um, you have this report in your n- um, folders. It is the fourth of five. The third one actually did deal with the machines and that kind of thing. What we would ask from this bill, which we think is the best that we are going to get, is that while you're looking at funding and fiscal notes, you include implementation, including supplemental cost, ongoing cost for the maintenance of the equipment, tech support, education and training. [1:48:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6496s) And while we're at it, the two things that we have learned from the two years that we have been working on this report is election supervisors are exhausted by the continuous changes and the changing statutes, and the fact that we haven't even bothered cleaning up some of this. In the Senate just a cou- last week, I... Time, it's time. On crossover we had a bill that failed. It actually amended the wrong code because the DRE code is still in the statute. So while we are doing this process, what we're hoping is that y- after we've implemented this new m- this new, um, equipment you can take some time to give election supervisors a break. [1:48:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6533s) That's it. [1:48:54](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6534s) Wonderful. Thank you very much. Um, uh, again, uh, uh, Mr., Mr. Joel. [1:48:59](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6539s) Mr. Natt. [1:48:59](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6539s) How about that? [1:49:00](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6540s) It's actually Professor Natt, but yes. [1:49:01](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6541s) Okay. Wonderful. [1:49:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6542s) Sorry. [1:49:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6542s) You're recognized. [1:49:03](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6543s) Sorry. Um, good mor- good afternoon. My name is Joel Natt. I am the vice chairman of the Forsyth County Board of Registrations and Elections. I've been doing elections for 15 years. I am a cybersecurity professional with 40 years of cyber experience. I work f- professionally for a company called Trend AI, who does zero-days, and we're known for our zero-days. Um, I live just out of the courtesy in House District 24, Representative Carter in the, over there. Um, the issues I bring is one, um- [1:49:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6574s) As a member of Gavrio and a long-standing member of Gavrio, it is important that we are part of that group. This bill is going to do a lot to improve how we handle elections. Um, to one item that, um, the Secretary of State's office pointed out, it's not other... When you go to blanks, it's really unrea- unreadable in a marked area or blank ballots as your other errors. It... You gotta understand that when you get to a pencil and paper, you're starting to do vote review panels, and you're doing things like that. [1:50:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6607s) And if I can have one extra second, please. [1:50:09](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6609s) One extra second, 'cause I didn't hear anybody else. [1:50:11](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6611s) Um, yeah. Um, the other piece is just keep in mind that every time we do change, we do need to educate the public, and they come and yell at all of us in the field before they yell at all of our good legislators. [1:50:23](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6623s) Yeah. That's a fair statement. [1:50:24](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6624s) So I thank you for your time. [1:50:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6625s) Okay, so here's what we've got. I've got three left who wanna speak about an amendment. I'm gonna actually recognize all three of you at once. So Kendra, uh, Bigaleski, um, Lee, I can't read the first... Gayle Lee, I think, and Eric Christensen. Um, since there's... I'm not, uh, familiar with what amendment it is that you all wanna talk about, uh, and out of respect for time, we're just gonna have to do all this at once. [1:50:57](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6657s) You, you are recognized. W- w- well, we'll give them... Since there's three of them, we're gonna give them two minutes. [1:51:01](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6661s) Okay. Oh, uh, two minutes per person, or...? [1:51:05](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6665s) Two minutes in aggregate. [1:51:06](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6666s) Two minutes for all of us. [1:51:07](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6667s) Two minutes for all of you. [1:51:09](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6669s) For all of us. Oh, my goodness. Good afternoon. I'm Dr. Kendra Fults-Bigalske. I'm chair of the DeKalb County Republican Party. I do support legislation that improves our elections. However, SB 214 as is needs some changes. This bill creates massive unfunded mandates as... on counties for facility upgrades, staffing, training, and long-term vendor dependencies with no clear total cost provided. It adds operational complexity and new risks, like printer failures, like we saw in Arizona 2022, supply shortages, slower voting during peak turnout. [1:51:45](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6705s) It heavily restricts hand-marked paper ballots, limiting them to small elections under 5,000 voters, while centralizing far too much authority with our Secretary of State. And, um, worse, this version keeps the proprietary QR codes that only Dominion Democracy Suite software can read, and delays real change, um, creating uncertainty and potential legal issues for the 2026 elections. We need simpler, more flexible solutions, not an expensive centralized mandate, uh, that burdens taxpayers without proven benefits and keeps the illegal QR codes on the ballots that voters cannot read or verify. [1:52:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6745s) This deficiency especially undermines the previous efforts of this body and the governor's SB 189, and provides no relief to Georgians to verify their ballot. Please amend SB 214. Thank you for your time. [1:52:40](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6760s) Uh, no problem. Uh, you have about 30 seconds left if you wanna... [1:52:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6763s) Well- [1:52:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6764s) I don't know what amendment. I, I... It just says amendment on here, so that isn't... That, that's not an option, so I'm trying to do this again. [1:52:50](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6770s) All right. Uh, well, as I understand it, your proposal is to leave the election system exactly like it is for our important general election this November. Um, and it has known vulnerabilities, and I'm gonna skip to... And I understand that you have chosen to hitch the future of this state, and possibly the nation, to machine tabulation. I don't have a problem with that if it is followed by hand count of the votes. [1:53:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6801s) All right. Thank you. A- at the, uh, chairman's discretion, he's asked to give you... Wait, I give you one minute. [1:53:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6807s) Yeah. [1:53:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6808s) Eric Christensen, um, auditor, accountant, and active CPA. Um, just a couple of comments. I, I think in the history of this state, you know, I can't believe we've spent six years on this and we're kicking the can down the road, and, uh, that's disappointing. Um, in terms of, uh, amendments, I would say one thing, and I've presented this to a lot of you guys already. And Martin, thank you for, uh, uh, pointing out the fact that this was an issue. It... With the state election board, I presented some wording that would change the way the state election board is elected, and there's a conflict right now, I guess, with the fact that the governor appoints the chair, which taints that, um, from a rulemaking standpoint. [1:54:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6853s) So I think that needs to be fixed. And, um, y- we need to coda... And part of that is to codify Article 1, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, make sure that the state election board is recognized as the legislative proxy for y'all, uh, because you guys only meet 40 days a year, and somebody needs to be out there. The second thing is, you know, we had great accounting in this state, and we've gotten rid of the accounting that we had. We had great procedures, we had great accounting, we had election integrity, and we've let it go. We've lost it. [1:54:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6883s) Thank, thank you, Mr. Christensen. All right. So that concludes our speakers on, for, and behalf of the bill. Uh, th- I would just comment, um, in the future for anybody who wants to sign up for a bill, if you write for amendment, if the question is for or against, so that doesn't tell me exactly what it is that you're wanting to do, so it makes it a little harder for me to, to run the committee. All right. Uh, with that being said, uh, Mr. Chairman, would you like to take any more questions from your seat, or would you prefer to go down, uh, for any final discussion? [1:55:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6914s) Just sit here if that's okay. [1:55:15](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6915s) Okay. So at this point, I'll, I'll allow the committee to ask any final questions they have to the presenter, and, uh... Oh, well, there you go. And, uh, otherwise... Oh, both presenters. I didn't even see you back there. All right. Um- [1:55:33](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6933s) What's this, Mr. Chairman? [1:55:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6934s) And, uh, 'cause I, I, I had made that commitment, we, we're gonna try to keep this reasonable 'cause, uh, we do lose the room at 3:00. So with that, I'm gonna rec- rep- r- uh, recognize Representative Oliver. By all means, ma'am [1:55:47](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6947s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am interested in, in, uh, section 18, uh, about the investigation opportunity that can happen at a precinct level. I'm a little concerned about how that's really gonna work as a practical matter. I look at the lines 389 to 394. Um, refers to records, reports generated, um, system to be examined against any other information reported. [1:56:24](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=6984s) That language seems a little loose to me, and I'm, I'm considering making an amendment just to delete those lines, and I wanted to ask your opinion or direction or advice. Uh, if, if I may, Senator, I'll, I'll- Please do ... kind of address this while you're looking right there. Uh, this, this question has been brought up. This language actually came from, uh, from a, a member of Gabrio. [1:56:48](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7008s) Yeah. [1:56:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7009s) However, in reviewing and reviewing with legislative council, uh, I would, we, I, I would, and I'm assuming the senator would, would follow suit with me, uh, uh, consider that a friendly amendment. [1:56:58](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7018s) Thank you. [1:57:01](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7021s) All right. And then, uh, Representative Sanchez, you're recognized. [1:57:05](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7025s) Thank you so much, Chair. My, uh, question's also on section 18, but a different section of it. Um, specifically starting on line, um, starting on line 377 through to 379. So it says it appears that the total votes ... If it, if it appears that the total votes returned for any single candidate or the total votes returned for any combination of candidates for the same office or nomination, and then later on it says if it mismatches the ballots, or the ballots casted, that it has to be, there has to be an investigation on that. [1:57:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7063s) Now, my question is, does this also take into account there are certain municipalities that are under 100,000 population that allow for elections where you can vote up to three candidates at once for a, a, a seat. So an example I have right here is Ro- city of Rome. There's a sample ballot where you ... it says, "Vote no more than three," on here. And so if you actually look at the tabulation of that specific election, for city council there was 11,000 votes. But the reported amount of cast ballots is 4,700. [1:58:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7094s) So would that trigger this clause, or is there a, a carve out for situations like this? [1:58:23](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7103s) It's a city election, is that right? [1:58:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7105s) Yes. [1:58:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7105s) Okay. A- and what you're saying is they have a m- multi-candidate- [1:58:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7109s) Yes [1:58:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7109s) ... um- [1:58:30](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7110s) More or less, yeah [1:58:30](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7110s) ... more or less. [1:58:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7111s) Right. [1:58:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7111s) So one, one precinct, multiple candidates running at large? [1:58:36](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7116s) I believe so, yeah. And they w- basically it allows for the voters to vote for more than one candidate. [1:58:40](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7120s) Correct. [1:58:40](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7120s) Yeah. [1:58:40](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7120s) But the total number of votes cast would not exceed three times the number of electors. Is that not true? [1:58:47](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7127s) Yes. That's what I ... And I just wanted to make sure this language covers that. [1:58:51](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7131s) I believe it does. [1:58:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7133s) Okay. [1:58:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7133s) I believe it would allow for that environment. [1:58:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7136s) Okay. That was my main question. And I do also have a motion later on for a section 19- [1:59:01](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7141s) Yeah [1:59:01](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7141s) ... but I will go at the proper time. [1:59:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7142s) Yeah, I'll recognize it at the proper time. Okay. Seeing no more questions at this time, I will entertain motions. [1:59:12](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7152s) Make a motion to pass. [1:59:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7154s) All right. Can I get a second? [1:59:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7156s) Second. [1:59:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7156s) All right. We got a motion and a second. All right. At this point, I am now at the posture to take amendments. Um, uh, M- uh, Mary Margaret Oliver, I'm gonna recognize you first. You, you have an amendment that you wanna offer. [1:59:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7168s) Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wish to amend, um, beginning on line 389 through the conclusion of 394, that that language be deleted, and that's referencing what exchange I had just recent- just now with the exchange, that that would be regarded as a friendly amendment. [1:59:50](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7190s) Okay. So I'm gonna call this the Oliver amendment. And I, I, I'll leave- [1:59:55](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7195s) Beginning with the word "in". [1:59:57](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7197s) Uh, uh, Stuart, are you- I think I Okay. All right. I'll, I'll recognize you at the proper time, I guess. Um, so all right, so we got a mo- we got a ... I heard a motion. Who was, who's the motion on, just to make sure we have it for the record? Mary's motion. Okay. You motioned second? [2:00:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7214s) Yeah. [2:00:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7214s) All right. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor of the Oliver amendment, can it ... Uh, actually I should open up for discussion real quick. Is there any discussion? Yeah. Yeah. All right. [2:00:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7225s) Clarification. [2:00:26](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7226s) All right, 25. Uh, who, who's 25? [2:00:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7229s) Thank you. This is me. [2:00:30](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7230s) Yeah. [2:00:30](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7230s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:00:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7231s) Momtahan. [2:00:32](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7232s) Can we, can we ... Just wanna make sure I, I'm understanding what we're doing here. Can, can somebody explain the amendment? What, what are we cutting out here? Maybe, uh, Chairman Burns, if you could again. [2:00:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7244s) I, I think I'm gonna defer either to, uh, Representative Oliver or Chairman Anderson. If it's my understanding, you would delete on line 389 after Secretary of State period. Is that right? [2:00:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7256s) Yes, sir. [2:00:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7256s) Delete that, the rest of the Senate beginning with "in precincts" through the end of 394. Is that correct? [2:01:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7262s) Yes, sir. [2:01:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7262s) Thank you. [2:01:05](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7265s) What, what's the object- I understand the amendment. What's the objective here? I'm trying to understand. [2:01:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7270s) Would you ... Would you like me to respond, or Mr. Chair, what would you like? [2:01:17](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7277s) I, I, I'll recognize you, please. By all means. [2:01:20](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7280s) Records are not defined. Reports generated is not defined. I think that we are saying, setting up some potential, uh, vagueness there that's unnecessary. [2:01:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7294s) Thank you. I, I don't know that if we or if we have on line 393, "Des- if any discrepancies are discovered, the superintendent shall investigate the discrepancy and, if necessary, the results," I, I'm- [2:01:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7309s) I'm trying to understand whether or not we should be deleting the section or we should be, uh, creating definitions if that's what we wanna do here. I, I, I'm kind of in a position where I think, uh, we've had a lot of folks come out and talk about making sure that the, that the information is correct and that we have the right processes here. This is describing a process that lacks definitions, and I just don't know why we're not making those definitions. [2:02:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7341s) May I call the question, Mr. Chair? [2:02:25](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7345s) Well, I ... May I ... Before I recognize you, may I recognize, recognize, uh, uh, Chairman Anderson real quick to speak? Uh, just, I just wanted to say, uh, uh, you know, this, this particular ... the, the, this section of the bill, uh, I would agree with part of what, uh, uh, Chairman Momtahan said, uh, in that that last sentence may be important to leave in this section. But, uh, I would, I would have no problem deleting the part prior to that, as it is for the most part those scenarios that could be caught in that are covered above this. [2:03:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7382s) The, the meat of this particular addition is in the first paragraph. So, uh, Representative Oliver, would you be willing to restate that amendment? I'd be willing to, um, amend my amendment- ... uh, to, uh, delete following, uh, Secretary of State period on line 8389 be- in the sentence beginning "In precincts," and ending that deletion on 393, uh, after the period. [2:03:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7414s) Leaving the sentence, "If any discrepancies are discovered, the superintendent shall investigate the discrepancy and, if necessary, correct the results." Legislative Council, is that sufficient for you? All right. Wonderful. So at that point, we do have a motion, we have a second, we have called the question. So at this point, at this ... All those in favor of the Oliver amendment say aye. Aye. All those opposed? No. No. No. Uh, the chair s- ayes have it. Okay. [2:04:04](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7444s) Next we have Representative Sanchez. I believe that you wanted to make a motion. Yes. Thank you, Chair. Uh, we talked earlier about Section 19. Uh, and I think there was a suggestion from the Secretary of State's office on this section. So I would like to amend, um, this section by starting on lines 412, starting with the, "Any similar," down to 414, strike that language. Second. [2:04:35](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7475s) All right. We got a motion and a second. I'll go ahead and open the floor for any discussion. So, uh, to explain my motion- Yeah ... so this would allow for the Secretary of State to continue their pilot program, and then the State Election Board could do theirs as well. So there would be ... We'd have multiple audits now. [2:04:55](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7495s) I, I tell you what, I think we're gonna, we're, we're gonna take a quick pause. [2:05:01](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7501s) I like to make sure both the au- the authors are, are amenable to the change. If they're not, then we'll consider it. Okay. Okay. Uh, if you don't mind- One more time. Yeah ... Representative Sanchez, ple- please state that one more- Right ... just so the whole committee is very clear on what's going on. So my motion is to strike starting on line 412, "Any similar," through line 14. Strike that language. Basically, this would allow the Secretary of State to continue their, uh, program and also allow for the State Election Board to have theirs as well. [2:05:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7531s) So it would allow for both. All right. So I think that's fairly clear. We have a motion. We have a second. We are open for conversation. We, uh, uh ... Adesanya. Uh, Representative Adesanya, yeah, are you, are you wanting to speak about this, or- It's aye. Okay. All right. It's aye. So in that case, that, that'll open this up for vote. Oh, actually, Representative ... I'm sorry. Chairman Anderson. Okay. We would not as, uh ... We would not take that as a friendly amendment. Okay. All right. That's not considered friendly. Thank you. [2:06:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7562s) Uh, again, at this t- point I'll take this up for a vote. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All those opposed? No. No. Uh, motion of the chair. Uh, the, uh, the motion fails. All right. All right. We now have Representative ... Oh. Actually, uh, uh, Le- Legislative Council has, uh, an amendment that one of us will offer. Are you recognized? Uh, yes. Um, there's a ... I just noticed there's a drafting error on line 369. [2:06:35](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7595s) Um, it says, "And adding a new code section." That needs to read, "And adding a n- new subsection." Uh, I will make that motion 'cause I was planning on making that motion anyway, so I appreciate you bringing that forward. Um, so that would be striking the words code section line 369 and replacing it with subsection. Can I get a, a second on that motion? Second. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? None. Okay. All right. I think it's that one done. [2:07:06](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7626s) All r- ... Next is, uh, Representative Adesanya. Thank you, Chairman. Um, I would also like to make a motion. Oh, wow. I'll give you this appropriate time to make the motion. Okay. All right. Um, I would like to, um, strike out line 407 to 409, so the point that starts with the State Election Board, um, up to the, um, 409 that says, "Tax portion of the ballot." So you- 40- 407 to 409. [2:07:36](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7656s) Second. So I d- I just wanna make sure. Y- y- This is, this is what's in existence- Section 19 ... and the only thing we're changing right now is Secretary of State to State Election Board. But you wanna strike out all of the lines- Yeah. Well- ... from- Or we can revert back to the Secretary of State, whichever one is easier, Chairman Anderson- [2:07:54](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7674s) It's, it's your motion. [2:07:55](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7675s) Yeah. [2:07:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7676s) How would you want to d- how do you want to do it? [2:08:01](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7681s) Um, if we strike out 407 to 409, it just automatically revert back to, um, the secretary of state. I'm handling that anyway. So we can either revert it back or remove 407 to 409. [2:08:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7694s) So if I was to restate your motion, what's your, what's your- [2:08:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7696s) Yeah. All right. So, uh, my motion is to strike out line 407 through 409. [2:08:22](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7702s) Okay. Strike out what ... And I would, I would ... When you say through, you mean to, to the end of the word ballot? [2:08:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7708s) Correct. [2:08:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7709s) Okay. All right. So we have a motion. Uh, I, I did not r- record a second. [2:08:36](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7716s) Second. [2:08:38](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7718s) All right. We have a motion and a second. Uh, uh, we, we'll open up for discussion. Chairman Anderson, did you wanna be recognized? [2:08:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7724s) I j- just gonna say that's not a friendly amendment. Thank you. [2:08:46](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7726s) Okay. Thank you. All right. That's ... So at this point I don't see any more discussion on that topic. Uh- [2:08:52](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7732s) I have a question. [2:08:53](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7733s) Oh, you do? All right. Never mind then. I will recognize you, absolutely. [2:08:57](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7737s) Thank you, uh, Chairman. And this may be a question for Senator Burns or Chairman Anderson. I'm, I'm trying to understand the intent behind prioritizing a pilot being run by the state election board over, uh, an existing pilot, which requires time, uh, to see it through, to track and monitor, to prove out any sort of impact or effectiveness. And so maybe this, this is a question the author or Chairman Anderson can answer. [2:09:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7769s) Why are we prioritizing a, a, a pilot that for all intents and purposes is intended to do the same thing that an already existing pilot is trying to do? [2:09:44](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7784s) Mr. Chairman, I, I would simply respond by saying we're trying to separate responsibilities here. And we'd like to make sure that we have a, a good, clean operational context and a good, clean audit context. And the sooner we, we verify that through a pilot, the better. [2:10:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7802s) And we- [2:10:02](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7802s) Because we would like to ... We'd like for the secretary of state to focus on the operationalization and the conducting of the elections, and we'd like the state election board to be our, our external review process through an audit. [2:10:15](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7815s) And what, what happens to the existing work being done on the current pilot? Are we just- [2:10:20](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7820s) I would hope- [2:10:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7821s) ... scrapping that? [2:10:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7821s) Um, I would hope the secretary of state would share that information with state election board, and they could, uh, pick up and move forward. [2:10:26](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7826s) All right. Thank you, sir. [2:10:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7829s) Okay. At this time we have motion and a second on the table. I will ... We're gonna ... All those in favor of the, the Adesanya amendment, say aye. [2:10:38](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7838s) Aye. [2:10:39](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7839s) Aye. [2:10:39](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7839s) All those opposed? [2:10:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7842s) No. [2:10:42](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7842s) No. [2:10:43](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7843s) No. Uh, uh, no, the, the motion fails. All right. Next we have Representative Bazemore. [2:10:51](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7851s) Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'd like to make a motion on page 21, line 515, that we strike out nu- the number 19. [2:11:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7868s) Um- [2:11:09](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7869s) Say that again, sorry. [2:11:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7870s) Yeah. [2:11:11](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7871s) 515. [2:11:12](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7872s) Line 515, we strike out the number 19. [2:11:15](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7875s) 19. [2:11:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7876s) And the comma thereafter? [2:11:17](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7877s) Yes. [2:11:18](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7878s) All right. That's the Bazemore amendment. Do I ... [2:11:22](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7882s) Second. [2:11:23](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7883s) We have a second. All right. We'll open it up for discussion. Uh, you'll have to explain that one to me a little bit. [2:11:30](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7890s) I believe this would just revert, allow this, um, to revert back to the secretary of state. [2:11:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7897s) No. [2:11:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7897s) It would- [2:11:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7897s) No. [2:11:47](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7907s) It would. [2:11:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7909s) I, I, I'll tell you what. Representative Roberts, I'll recognize you. [2:11:52](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7912s) I was gonna make the same am- amendment, so I know what it does. [2:11:55](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7915s) Okay. [2:11:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7916s) Um, it would, um, just mean that the, uh, SCB audits wouldn't start until January 1st, 2027. [2:12:03](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7923s) Thank you. [2:12:04](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7924s) So these elections would move forward the way that they are now. [2:12:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7928s) So would you say- [2:12:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7928s) The upcoming elections [2:12:10](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7930s) ... say it's safe to call it the Bazemore-Roberts Amendment? [2:12:12](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7932s) Sure. [2:12:13](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7933s) All right. [2:12:14](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7934s) I'll share. [2:12:15](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7935s) All right. [2:12:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7936s) Thank you. [2:12:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7936s) So, so we have a, a motion and a second at this point. Uh, and we've had conversation, so at this point we'll, we'll take it up for vote. All those in favor of the Ro- ro- Bazemore-Roberts Amendment, say aye. [2:12:28](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7948s) Aye. [2:12:29](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7949s) Opposed? [2:12:30](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7950s) No. [2:12:32](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7952s) Uh, the no's have it. The motion fails. [2:12:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7954s) Can we get a hand count? [2:12:36](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7956s) Oh, we gotta do a hand count? Absolutely. [2:12:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7957s) Yes. [2:12:37](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7957s) All right. Uh, those in favor, raise your hand. [2:12:41](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7961s) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. [2:12:45](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7965s) We have seven against. Those four. [2:12:48](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7968s) One, two, three, four, five, six. [2:12:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7969s) I'm, I'm sorry. Th- those against. Those against. Thank you. There's a lot going on here. [2:12:54](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7974s) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. [2:12:58](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=7978s) All right. There you go. The motion fails. All right. Um, that ... I actually have one amendment I'd like to, to make a motion to, and that is gonna be on line 149. [2:13:21](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8001s) After committee, between the committee and period, it will ... The following language will be added. "Provided, however, that a meeting may be als- may also be called by seven members of the committee." And the reason for this amendment is it allows the committee an opportunity to call that in order, just in case there's an issue with the, uh, Secretary, secretary of state choosing not to. So it, uh, gives a little bit more flexibility to the committee, and, and I'm in generally, uh, supportive of, of allowing that to happen. [2:13:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8036s) Second. [2:13:56](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8036s) We got a motion and a second. Uh, be happy for conversation. [2:14:05](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8045s) I rep- recognize you, Representative. [2:14:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8048s) I'm, I'm sorry. [2:14:08](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8048s) Go ahead. [2:14:09](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8049s) What, which committee would that be? A, a governor's committee? [2:14:11](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8051s) No, so it's the, uh, advisory committee. So that right now the way it's written is the secretary of state has to call that, whoever that person is. In this case, it just allows the members of the committee to also have the ability to call that in lieu of the secretary of state. [2:14:26](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8066s) Thank you. [2:14:27](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8067s) Yeah. So we had a motion, we got a second. [2:14:31](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8071s) Can you read the motion again? [2:14:33](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8073s) I can read it again. [2:14:34](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8074s) The text of the amendment was, "Provided, however, that a meeting may also be called by seven members of the committee." [2:14:40](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8080s) Yes, that is correct. So we have a motion and a second. All, all those in favor, aye. [2:14:47](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8087s) Aye. [2:14:47](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8087s) Opposed? [2:14:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8089s) No. [2:14:49](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8089s) All right. So motion passes. Okay, so that completes all amendments to this bill. So we're gonna go to the motion of com- of voting on the bill. So I ... There's a whole lot I was supposed to say here, right? So, uh, this would be motion to pass, uh, SB 214 LC 474253S as amended by the committee. All those in favor say aye. [2:15:16](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8116s) Aye. [2:15:17](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8117s) Opposed? [2:15:19](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8119s) No. [2:15:19](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8119s) No. [2:15:19](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8119s) No. [2:15:19](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8119s) No. [2:15:19](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8119s) Check your hand. [2:15:20](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8120s) I would say the ruling of the chair is it passes. Thank you. And with that, we are adjourned. [2:15:36](https://vimeo.com/1176253106#t=8136s) We