The Georgia State Senate on Friday narrowly rejected legislation that would have required voters to use hand-marked paper ballots ahead of the November elections, leaving state officials searching for a solution to comply with an upcoming law banning QR codes on ballots.

The chamber voted 27–21 against Senate Bill 568, falling two votes short of the 29 required for passage in the 56-member Senate. Seven senators did not cast votes during the measure’s consideration after warnings that switching voting systems on short notice could create administrative complications before upcoming elections.

The proposal, sponsored by Republican Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming, sought to replace Georgia’s current touchscreen voting machines with a system requiring voters to fill out paper ballots by hand. The ballots would then be scanned for tabulation, a process widely used in many other states.

Georgia currently relies on touchscreen voting equipment that allows voters to make their selections electronically. After choices are made, the machine prints a paper ballot displaying both a text summary and a QR code representing the voter’s selections. Tabulation scanners read the QR code to count votes.

Critics of the system argue that because scanners rely on the QR code rather than the printed text, voters cannot independently confirm that their selections were accurately recorded. Supporters of hand-marked paper ballots say a system based on physical ballots filled out directly by voters is easier to audit and verify.

Despite the bill’s failure, Georgia lawmakers still face a looming deadline tied to previous legislation. A state law enacted two years ago requires election officials to stop using QR-coded ballots beginning July 1, forcing officials to modify or replace the current voting system before the November election cycle.

The unresolved issue has left legislators considering alternative proposals or potential amendments to other election-related bills that are still moving through the state legislature.

The debate is part of Georgia’s broader effort to review and update election procedures following the closely contested 2020 presidential election, which triggered multiple recounts and audits in the state.

Since then, lawmakers have approved several election-related changes affecting absentee voting, early voting, and ballot handling procedures.

With the Senate rejecting the paper ballot proposal, Georgia’s May primary will proceed using the current touchscreen voting system while state officials work to determine how to meet the upcoming requirement to eliminate QR-coded ballots before the fall elections.