Politics
Politics

Georgia will test voting with paper ballots in a November election

Georgia for the first time in nearly a decade will pilot the use of paper ballots this November in a local municipal election, the first step toward what officials said could be a statewide switch to a new voting system.
By Kristina Torres
Sept 7, 2017

Paper ballots could be making a comeback in Georgia, with the state planning to test a new voting system this November in a local municipal election.

The pilot program comes as the state under increasing pressure to update its current system, which it has maintained in the face of both technological advances and heightened concerned over systemic flaws that could be exploited if the system was ever breached.

The state last overhauled its system in 2002 when it committed to the now-familiar touch-screen electronic voting machines that millions of voters here still use today.

At the same time, it eliminated a paper trail of recorded votes — something election experts now warn against.

Find more exclusive details about the effort, where it will be used and how much it could cost only by clicking here to read our premium story only on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Kristina Torres
More Stories

Keep Reading

The job performance approval rating for President Donald Trump is 84% among likely Republican voters, while the disapproval rating among likely Democratic voters is 94%, according to October AJC polls. (Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC | Source: Getty)

Credit: Illustration: Philip Robibero/AJC | Source: Getty

AJC poll: Republican support for Trump remains strong in Georgia

The AJC's poll results are a reminder that even though Trump’s name won’t appear on the ballot in next year’s midterms, his influence shapes Georgia’s political landscape.

Georgia isn’t redrawing districts despite Trump’s push. At least for now.

Georgia's Republican leaders say they will wait until the U.S. Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act ruling before deciding whether to redraw congressional maps.

1h ago

1 in 8 Georgians get SNAP benefits. They’ll lose them Saturday.

The latest county-level data shows more than 705,000 households across Georgia rely on the benefits each month.

The Latest

Lawyer Bryan Sells points at the Democrats’ proposed redistricting map during the second day of a Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee hearing at the Georgia State Capitol. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2023)

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

Georgia isn’t redrawing districts despite Trump’s push. At least for now.

1h ago

Despite a $14.6 billion surplus, state leaders say they can’t bail out SNAP

2h ago

1 in 8 Georgians get SNAP benefits. They’ll lose them Saturday.

Featured

The renovation of Jekyll Island's Great Dunes golf course includes nine holes designed by Walter Travis in the 1920s for the members of the Jekyll Island Club. Several holes that were part of the original layout where located along the beach and were bulldozed in the 1950s.(Photo by Austin Kaseman)

Credit: Photo by Austin Kaseman

Gilded Age tycoons built Jekyll’s doomed golf course. It’s been resurrected.

Jekyll Island's historic golf course, Great Dunes, was designed by Walter Travis in the Gilded Age. It reopens Nov. 1 on Georgia's coast after a painstaking restoration.

Embattled Fulton judge sued over woman’s ‘illegal’ jailing

While facing possible removal from the bench, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shermela Williams has been sued by a young woman she jailed during a divorce hearing.

KEN SUGIURA

A miserable loss leaves even less reason to believe in Falcons, Morris

Falcons coach Raheem Morris was accountable for the team's failures after a 34-10 loss to Miami, but that isn't enough if this team wants to make the postseason.