The Georgia General Assembly adjourned its 2026 special session on Tuesday, June 23, after completing legislative work outlined in Governor Brian Kemp’s special session proclamation.
Georgia Senate Republicans have approved legislation that would delay a state law banning the use of QR codes to count votes, keeping the state’s touchscreen voting system in place through the 2026 midterm elections. The measure passed the Senate by a 33-19 vote and now heads to the Georgia House for consideration.
The legislation would postpone the QR code ban until January 2028 and create a committee to recommend specifications for Georgia’s next voting system. Lawmakers say the move is necessary to avoid confusion and potential legal challenges because the state has not yet developed or implemented a replacement system.
Gov. Brian Kemp called lawmakers into a special session in part to address the looming July 1 deadline established by a 2024 law that would prohibit counting votes through QR codes. Election officials have warned that making a major change before this fall’s elections could create logistical problems for counties and voters.
Georgia’s current voting system uses touchscreen machines that print paper ballots containing both a human-readable summary and a QR code that is scanned to tabulate votes. Critics have argued for years that voters cannot independently verify the information contained in the QR code, while supporters say changing systems too close to an election could create significant disruptions.
The Senate proposal would also require full hand recounts of the top two races on the ballot, a provision that has generated debate among lawmakers over the time and resources required to conduct such counts.
Democrats generally support delaying the QR code ban but criticized the bill’s process, arguing that the committee tasked with designing a future voting system lacks adequate bipartisan representation.
If approved by the House and signed into law, the measure would keep Georgia’s touchscreen voting system in place through at least the 2026 election cycle while state leaders work toward selecting a long-term replacement.
Georgia lawmakers have taken the first major step toward resolving a voting system issue that threatened to complicate the state’s upcoming elections.
Early voting for the June 16, 2026 Primary Runoff Election starts today, Monday, June 8, and will continue through Friday, June 12, according to the Chattooga County Registrar’s Office.
Early voting for the June 16, 2026 Primary Runoff Election will begin Monday, June 8, and continue through Friday, June 12, according to the Chattooga County Registrar’s Office.
Election Day for the May 19, 2026 General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election is tomorrow in Chattooga County.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 AM until 7 PM. Voters are reminded that they must go to their assigned Election Day polling location, not the Registrars Office.
According to the Chattooga County Board of Elections, 1,301 ballots were cast during Advance Voting, which has now ended.
As of Saturday, May 16, at 7:30 AM, 53 absentee by mail ballots had been issued. Of those, 42 had been accepted and 11 remained outstanding. The deadline to submit an application for an absentee by mail ballot has passed.
Voters will be required to show a government-issued photo ID when checking in to vote. Those voting in person will also be asked to select a Democratic, Republican, or Nonpartisan ballot.
Voters across northwest Georgia are entering the final week of early voting ahead of the May 19 primary election.
Early voting is continuing this week in Chattooga County at the Chattooga County Registrars Office, giving residents the opportunity to cast their ballots before Election Day next Tuesday.
Local election officials are encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting to avoid possible lines and scheduling conflicts on Election Day. Voters are reminded to bring a valid photo ID when voting in person.
Voters in the May 19 Primary Election must choose a Democratic, Republican, or Nonpartisan ballot. Primary elections are where political parties determine their candidates for the General Election in November.
Election officials say absentee ballots must also be returned by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted.
Residents who have questions about polling locations, sample ballots, or voting hours are encouraged to contact their county elections office.
Election Day voting will take place Tuesday, May 19.
Time is running out for residents who want to take part in next month’s primary election in Georgia.
Advance Voting for the April 7, 2026 Special Election Runoff to fill the unexpired terms of Marjorie Taylor Greene (US House of Representatives, District 14) and Colton More (State Senate, District 53) will begin today, Monday, March 30, 2026 at 8:30 AM and end at 5 PM on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
Daily hours are 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. All Advance Voting will take place at the Chattooga County Registrars Office located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville.
On Election Day, April 7, 2026, the polls are open from 7 AM – 7 PM. All Election Day voting takes place at the assigned polling locations, not the Registrars Office. Polling places in Chattooga County include: Gore Fire Hall, Lyerly Community Center, old Menlo City Hall, Chattooga County Civic Center and the Trion Recreation Department.
Government issued photo ID is required. The registration deadline for this election was March 9, 2026.
A Georgia state senator has stepped down from office to focus on her campaign for lieutenant governor.
Democratic Sen. Nabilah Parkes, who represented part of Gwinnett County, announced her resignation in a public statement Friday. Parkes first launched a campaign for Georgia insurance and fire safety commissioner in January before shifting to the lieutenant governor’s race on March 5.
Parkes now joins state Sen. Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs and Richard Wright in the Democratic field for lieutenant governor. In her resignation letter to Gov. Brian Kemp, Parkes sharply criticized the Georgia Legislature, calling it “a place where good ideas go to die and where extremists continue to attack our freedoms.” Georgia’s primary election is scheduled for May 19.