Georgia lawmakers have taken the first major step toward resolving a voting system issue that threatened to complicate the state’s upcoming elections.

The Georgia Senate Ethics Committee voted 8-4 along party lines Thursday to advance legislation that would extend the deadline for removing QR codes from Georgia ballots until 2028. The measure was sponsored by Sen. Max Burns, a Republican from Sylvania.

Under current state law, QR codes used to tabulate votes on Georgia’s ballot-marking devices must be eliminated by July 1, 2026. However, lawmakers have not approved the estimated $66 million needed to modify or replace the equipment currently used statewide.

Georgia’s voting system, purchased from Dominion Voting Systems for approximately $107 million, was first used during the 2020 election. While supporters say the technology provides a secure and accessible voting process, critics have argued that ballots should be counted using text that voters can easily read and verify without relying on QR codes.

The proposed legislation would postpone the transition until before the 2028 presidential election and create a special committee to establish standards for Georgia’s next voting system. The committee would include appointees from the governor’s office and both legislative chambers.

One significant provision in the bill would shift authority over selecting future voting equipment away from the secretary of state’s office and place greater control in the hands of state lawmakers.

Democratic lawmakers raised concerns that the proposal does not guarantee representation for the minority party on the committee that would help determine the state’s future election system.

Local election officials have largely welcomed the legislation, saying it provides needed clarity after uncertainty surrounding how elections would be conducted once the current July 1 deadline arrived.

The full Georgia Senate is expected to consider the measure during Saturday’s special legislative session.