Georgia House approves new electronic voting machines

ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia House lawmakers approved using new electronic touchscreen voting machines that print a paper ballot, a big step toward replacing an outdated system that offered no verifiable paper trail.

The proposal disregards cybersecurity experts who say hand-marked paper ballots are more secure.

The bill passed Tuesday, largely along partisan lines with Republicans in support. It awaits Senate consideration.

The vote comes months after a contentious race for governor between Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp, who won.

The proposed system would include touchscreens where voters make their selections, then print a paper ballot that’s counted after being scanned. Lawmakers hope the machines would be in place by 2020.

Republican Rep. Barry Fleming says it’s the only system that won’t force disabled voters to use a different method.

Democrats say the system can’t be meaningfully audited and will further erode voter confidence.

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ATLANTA (WDEF) – Before the vote,  Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger released the findings of an internal inquiry into voting machine costs.

The conclusion was that hand-marked paper ballots would cost Georgia counties $224 millon over a decade.

“The $224 million price tag for hand-marked paper ballots stands in sharp contrast to touchscreen-marked paper ballots which would cost our state $150 million and come with the added benefits of superior security, accessibility, and transparency,” said Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs. “It is our hope that lawmakers will choose the option that will bring greater savings to our taxpayers and peace of mind to our voters.”

“Implementing hand-marked paper ballots would cost our state more than the estimated $224 million, since that number does not include the costs of staff, training, and other items related to election systems,” said Harvey.

“A hand-marked paper ballot system would also dramatically shift costs onto local governments – placing a heavy burden on local taxpayers and drawing a stark distinction between this and other options designed to prioritize taxpayer savings.”