- Georgia senators have approved a bill aimed at removing barcodes from ballots, responding to Republican discontent fueled by false claims from Donald Trump about winning the state in 2020.
- The bill, Senate Bill 189, mandates that printed text on ballots be used to count votes instead of QR codes, and it passed the Senate with a 31-22 vote, moving on to the House for further discussion.
Key Points:
- The bill, sponsored by Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Max Burns, aims to enhance clarity and address concerns about the accuracy of vote recording.
- Supporters argue that the measure would address perceived vulnerabilities in Georgia’s Dominion Voting Systems machines, although there is no evidence of hacking during elections.
- The distrust in Dominion machines among some Republicans has intensified following conspiracy theories about their role in the 2020 election, despite Dominion’s aggressive response and legal actions to counter such claims.
- Expert testimony during a federal trial demonstrated potential vulnerabilities in Dominion machines, leading to further concerns among Republicans.
- The bill’s passage comes amid broader Republican efforts to enact election-related measures, including a state constitutional amendment to ensure only U.S. citizens can vote in Georgia elections.
Further Legal Proceedings:
- The bill faces further debate in the House and would take effect on July 1 if enacted, despite concerns from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger about making significant changes so close to the 2024 presidential election.
- Additionally, the proposed state constitutional amendment regarding voting rights for U.S. citizens only requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate for approval.
Author of Social News Outlet, Tanvi Garg weaves compelling narratives that illuminate the human stories behind headlines.
