Georgia committee outlines risks and recommendations for next voting system
The Joint Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee met in Atlanta to evaluate hand-marked paper ballot systems and issued security-focused recommendations for Georgia’s upcoming voting equipment.
At the Georgia General Assembly, the Joint Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee convened its third session to discuss the next generation of voting equipment. Led by Sen. Max Burns and Rep. Victor Anderson, the panel heard from elections officials Blake Evans and Michael Barnes, who traced the evolution of Georgia’s voting technology since the 2000 election. Security specialists such as Geoff Hale and Deidre Holden warned of persistent cyber risks, while industry leaders like Jason Wareham and Michael Specter offered concrete steps: independent researcher access, mandatory patch timelines, and support for election officials.
Verified Voting’s Mark Lindeman and Data Productions’ Mark Davis highlighted the importance of hand-marked paper ballots and backup options for accessibility. The committee stressed aligning any new system with Gov. Brian Kemp’s goal of making voting simple but hard to cheat, and urged swift rollout and training for poll workers.
Why it matters
The recommendations shape Georgia’s election security and could influence voting technology standards nationwide.
In this story
