In a rare show of bipartisan agreement, both Democrats and Republicans in Georgia are urging state election officials to revert to hand-marked paper ballots. This unified call comes amid growing concerns over the security and accuracy of the current voting system, which relies on ballot-marking devices.
Morgan County Democratic Party Chairwoman Jeanne Dufort has submitted a petition to the State Election Board (SEB), advocating for the use of the Dominion 5.5-A voting system in its standard configuration: hand-marked ballots tabulated by precinct and central scanners, with touchscreen units reserved for voters needing assistive technology.
“Securing our elections should transcend party lines,” Dufort stated. “Hand-marked ballots provide a clear paper trail that reflects voters’ true intentions.”
This call is echoed by Republican leaders, including Cobb County Republican Chairwoman Salleigh Grubbs, who has voiced concerns about unresolved security vulnerabilities in the current system. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger acknowledged these vulnerabilities but indicated that necessary updates could not be implemented until after the November 2024 election.
The push for hand-marked ballots follows a Supreme Court decision and ongoing litigation in Curling v. Raffensperger, which challenges the current voting system’s reliability. Both sides agree that a return to paper ballots would mitigate risks and restore voter confidence in the election process.
