Cherokee County Republican Coalition, Inc. supports the following pieces of legislation: House Bill 975, 976 and 977, and Senate Bill 358 as all mark pivotal steps toward electoral integrity and transparency within the state of Georgia.

House Bill 975, introduced by Representatives LaHood (District 175), Anderson (District 10), Leverett (District 123), Blackmon (District 146), Jones (District 25), and Burchett (District 176) seeks to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which governs primaries and elections, with a specific focus on the use of electronic ballot markers. The bill’s primary objective is to prohibit the inclusion of bar codes, QR codes, and other machine-readable codes on ballots generated by electronic ballot markers. Specifically, subsection (d) is revised to declare that the official ballot shall be the text portion of the paper ballot marked by the voter using an electronic ballot marker, with no bar codes, QR codes, or other machine coding printed on it. This legislative action is underpinned by a commitment to restore public confidence in the electoral system, ensuring that every vote is verifiable and auditable by human means without reliance on potentially opaque machine coding.

House Bill 976, sponsored by Representatives LaHood (District 175), Anderson (District 10), Leverett (District 123), Blackmon (District 146), Jones (District 25), and Burchett (District 176), proposes a to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which governs primaries and elections, to mandate that all ballots used in optical scan voting systems and ballot marking devices are printed on paper with a visible watermark security feature. More specifically, ballots, except those delivered electronically to qualified electors under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, must be printed on security paper featuring a visible watermark that identifies the ballot as an official Georgia ballot and must incorporate features that can authenticate the ballot while ensuring that it does not make the ballot identifiable to a particular elector. The bill passed the House on January 31, 2024, and was referred to the Senate Ethics committee for further consideration.

House Bill 977, introduced by Representatives LaHood (District 175), Anderson (District 10), Leverett (District 123), Blackmon (District 146), Jones (District 25), and Burchett (District 176) seeks to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, specifically focusing on expanding the scope and application of risk-limiting audits across a broader array of electoral contests aiming to fortify public trust in the electoral outcomes and ensure the accuracy of the vote tabulation process. The bill meticulously defines critical terms such as “incorrect outcome,” “risk limit,” and “selected contests,” setting a progressive timeline for reducing the risk limit from eight percent in 2024 to two percent by 2030 and thereafter. It mandates that local election superintendents include all ballot types in the audits, ensuring a comprehensive verification process that spans in-person, absentee, advance voting, and provisional ballots. Moreover, the requirement for these audits to be completed before the final certification of contests, coupled with mandates for public reporting and transparency, ensures an electoral process that is both accountable and transparent. The bill passed the House on February 12, 2024, and was referred to the Senate Ethics committee for further consideration.

Senate Bill 358, as passed by the Georgia Senate, represents a significant shift in the oversight and operational structure of the State Election Board. The legislation seeks to amend the composition and responsibilities of the State Election Board as outlined in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, specifically within Subpart 1 of Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Title 21. The key provisions and objectives of this bill are as follows:

  • Modification of the State Election Board Composition: redefining the role of the Secretary of State in relation to the State Election Board by making the Secretary an ex officio nonvoting member.
  • Investigative Authority: authorizing the State Election Board to conduct investigations into the administration of primary and election laws, specifically targeting potential frauds and irregularities, including the authority to investigate the Secretary of State.
  • Duty and Cooperation of the Secretary of State: mandating that the Secretary of State must provide all necessary support, cooperation, and assistance as determined by the State Election Board.
  • Emergency Rules and Regulations: establishment of emergency rules and regulations, including requirements for timely notification of key government officials.
  • Repeal of Conflicting Laws: repeal of any laws that conflict with the new provisions, underscoring the legislature’s intent to streamline and clarify the legal framework governing the State Election Board’s operations.

The passage of each piece of legislation would mark a significant achievement in the ongoing effort to ensure that every vote is accurately counted and that the outcomes of elections reflect the true will of the people. This policy statement underscores the Georgia General Assembly’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of transparency, security, and trustworthiness in its electoral system.