Georgia is facing the potential for a last-minute logistical upheaval of our voting process — one that could impede some Georgians’ right to be heard at the ballot box, says Natalie Crawford. John McCosh/Georgia Recorder
Elections are the bedrock of our democracy. They rely on public trust and confidence. With the 2026 midterm election quickly approaching, Georgia must prioritize stability and safety in our elections over confusion.
Recent actions at the federal level have caused confusion around elections rules and procedures. These actions include ongoing attempts in Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act), which would make it harder for huge swaths of Americans to vote. The bill would eliminate the ability for Americans to register to vote for free, since it costs money to obtain the documents it requires. Under the SAVE Act, new registrants, women who get married and change their name after initially registering, and those who simply move after registering, would face more significant barriers when registering or updating their voter registration compared to today — inevitably leading to reduced turnout among eligible voters.
President Trump’s recent executive order seeking to limit mail-in voting is also stirring up dangerous unpredictability ahead of November. Although experts don’t expect this order to hold up in court, it has already sowed the seeds of confusion for voters and states. Nearly one in three Americans voted by mail in the 2024 general election; this confusion could divert many Americans from voting. And until courts invalidate the order, many state officials are no doubt taking steps to comply that might be difficult to roll back before November.
Amidst this federal storm, Georgia’s state lawmakers met for their final day of session earlier this month. Despite a legal requirement to address QR codes on Georgia’s ballots and bring the state into compliance with Senate Bill 189 (SB 189) — passed by this legislature in 2024 — lawmakers failed to take critical action to give Georgia voters and election officials a clearer picture of November’s voting procedures.
SB 189 requires the removal of QR codes from ballots — a key step in our voting process — by July 1 of this year. This sort of change is no small feat. To fully comply with SB 189: equipment would need to be purchased for polling places across Georgia, officials would need to be trained, millions of ballots may need to be printed, and more.
In a wise attempt to postpone this July 1 deadline, lawmakers introduced a bill that would move Georgia to a new voting system starting in 2028 — and included state funding to do so. While the House passed this bill, the Senate failed to follow suit — never taking up the House substitute — before the General Assembly adjourned for the year.
Georgia is now facing the potential for a last-minute logistical upheaval of our voting process — one that could impede some Georgians’ right to be heard at the ballot box.
The path out remains unclear. However, several potential remedies exist. The governor could call a special session for lawmakers to address elections-related legislation. Special sessions are rare, but not unprecedented. Alternatively, courts could get involved in determining a solution, though the outcome would be uncertain. It’s also possible that the governor could issue an executive order attempting to resolve the elections administration, which could result in lawsuits.
While these options put us in uncharted territory, doing nothing is not an option. A transition of this scale requires adequate state funding and sufficient time to train workers, test the new system, and coordinate polling locations. Overhauling our electoral system before November while maintaining election security and integrity is virtually impossible. Georgia’s election officials have told us so.
That’s why I believe holding a special session to pass legislation to delay these large-scale changes would be the best way to ensure stability in our elections.
I’m optimistic that Georgia will choose consistency over uncertainty amidst recent federal actions. Some states are introducing and passing legislation mirroring the SAVE Act; in the face of this, Georgia has an opportunity to stand up for sense, fairness, and democracy. The best way for Georgia to protect election security is by providing the stability and predictability Georgians need to maintain trust in our elections.
Peach state voters should be able to trust that November’s election will be free, fair, and orderly.
