2025 Code of Georgia
Title 21 - Elections (Chs. 1 — 5)
Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally (Arts. 1 — 15)
Article 8A - State-Wide Voting Equipment (§§ 21-2-300 — 21-2-301)
§ 21-2-301. (Repealed effective July 1, 2029.) Establishment of Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee; membership; reporting
(a) There is created the Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee that shall recommend the specifications, standards, and requirements for a new uniform system of election equipment based upon hand marked paper ballots produced utilizing ballot on demand printing. Such committee shall be composed the following:
(1) Three electors of the state to be appointed by the Governor;
(2) Three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments, one of whom shall be designated as cochairperson; and
(3) Three members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be designated as cochairperson.
(b) The committee may seek input from, but shall not be limited to:
(1) The elections director of the Secretary of State’s office, or his or her designee;
(2) The executive director of the State Election Board;
(3) The Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials;
(4) Cybersecurity experts; and
(5) Accessibility or disability experts.
(c) By January 31, 2027, the committee shall prepare a report which shall provide its recommendations for specifications, standards, and requirements for a new uniform system of election equipment. Such report shall be of sufficient detail so as to allow legislative and executive policymakers to develop appropriations, procurement, and implementation plans to provide for the use of such new uniform system of election equipment in the 2028 election cycle. The report shall be delivered to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of State, and the State Election Board.
(d)
(1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, except as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary of State in office on the effective date of this Code section shall have no role or authority in the selection, certification, or procurement of such new uniform system, including, but not limited to, the preparation of any requests for proposals, requests for qualifications, or other solicitations to potential vendors of election equipment to be used as a part of such uniform system. Any and all actions taken by the Secretary of State in office on the effective date of this Code section related to the selection, certification, or procurement of a new uniform system of election equipment shall be void and ultra vires.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection to the contrary, by majority vote the committee may request input and comment from the elections director or any other employee of the Secretary of State’s office.
(e) Each nonlegislative member of the committee shall receive a per diem in an amount equal to the per diem received by members of the General Assembly for each day or portion of a day thereof spent in serving as a member of the committee and shall be paid his or her necessary traveling expenses while engaged in the business of the committee from funds appropriated to the State Election Board.
(f) This Code section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2029.
History
Code 1981, § 21-2-301, enacted by Ga. L. 2026 1st Sp. Sess., p. SB 3, § 1/SB 3, effective June 25, 2026; Code 1981, § 21-2-301, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 269, § 19; Ga. L. 2003, p. 151, § 1; repealed by Ga. L. 2003, p. 517, § 29, effective July 1, 2003.
Annotations
Notes
Effective date.This Code section became effective June 25, 2026.
Editor's notes.The former Code section, relating to pilot program, testing and evaluation of electronic voting systems, creation of Twenty-first Century Voting Commission, was based on Ga. L. 2001, p. 269, § 19; Ga. L. 2003, p. 151, § 1, and was repealed by Ga. L. 2003, p. 517, § 29, effective July 1, 2003.
Research References & Practice Aids
Hierarchy Notes:O.C.G.A. Title 21
O.C.G.A. Title 21, Ch. 2
