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State bill extends QR‑code tabulation through 2028 and raises hand‑recount requirements, board told
Summary
Director Doss briefed the board on state legislation that extends QR‑code tabulation through 2028, establishes a selection process for a new statewide voting system beginning in 2027, and requires hand recounts in close races; the state will reimburse counties for recount costs.
Director Travis Doss updated the Richmond County Board of Elections on recent state action that affects county election procedures and equipment.
Doss summarized language in state bills discussed during a special session (referred to in the briefing as Senate Bill 189 and a follow‑up bill) that extends the allowable use of QR‑code tabulation through 2028 while the state plans a new voting‑system selection beginning in 2027. He said the legislation names members for the selection committee and changes recount and audit rules: when vote tallies in November fall within a recount threshold (described in the meeting as one‑half of one percent), the county could be required to perform a hand recount rather than a machine recount for certain races.
"For the November election, if the vote totals are within the recount procedures of one half of one percent, that we would do a hand recount rather than a machine recount," Doss said, and added that the legislation increases the number of mandatory audits in some races. He told the board the state expects to reimburse counties for costs incurred by any required hand recounts.
Why it matters: The change could increase county workload in close contests (manual recounts and additional audits) but also ensures temporary continuity of current tabulation equipment through November and the runoff. Board members asked staff clarifying questions about timing of hand counts relative to certification; Doss said the recount requirement will be prior to state certification, which gives counties more time than earlier ambiguous language had suggested.
Next steps: County election staff will monitor implementing rules and reimbursement procedures and prepare for the possibility of increased manual recount work this cycle.
