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Committee approves bill clarifying local authority to conduct hand accounting of ballots; supporters urge mandatory counts
Summary
The committee approved a substitute to House Bill 604 clarifying that local election superintendents may conduct a hand accounting of ballots after official tabulation; witnesses urged making hand counts mandatory and the Secretary of State's office recommended adding a sworn‑assistance requirement.
The House Governmental Affairs Committee approved a substitute to House Bill 604 (LC 47 35 13S), which clarifies that local election superintendents may conduct a hand accounting of ballots after the official computation, canvassing and tabulation of election returns.
Representative Montahan, presenting the substitute, said the bill "adds transparency by allowing an additional verification method, ensures that any discrepancies are addressed through existing processes, and it, again, prevents the disruptions to official election duties." The draft language states the hand accounting occurs after official processes and includes provisions intended to prevent interference with election duties.
Multiple witnesses representing election‑integrity groups and county election boards urged the committee to go further and make hand counts mandatory. Tamara Favrito of Voter GA said manual recounts would mitigate security concerns she and others have raised about voting systems, and Garland Favrito reiterated concerns about particular vendors and system security. Julie Adams of the Fulton County Board of Registrations and Elections said she supports the bill and would prefer hand counts to be mandatory. Chris Mora and Ed Greathouse, representing Pickens County election officials, said the bill clarifies authority that some counties currently lack due to legal uncertainty.
Blake Evans of the Secretary of State's office testified as neutral and suggested a technical change: insert the word "sworn" before "assistance" on line 19 so that persons handling ballots are sworn. Committee members asked about whether the procedure would interfere with usual election operations; sponsors said the superintendent retains authority to terminate a hand accounting if it disrupts essential duties.
The committee moved the substitute forward. The committee then took a hand count on the motion: 9 in favor and 4 opposed; the motion carried.
