Georgia considers rules on when to use hand-marked ballots in election emergencies

ATLANTA (AP) — Hand-marked paper ballots are Georgia’s backup when touchscreen voting machines can’t be used because of an “emergency,” and a proposed rule change would list the qualifying circumstances. Supporters say this would make it easier to determine if hand-marked ballots are needed, but critics say the change oversteps the State Election Board’s authority.

State law says if an “emergency situation” makes using touchscreen voting machines “impossible or impracticable,” voters may be given emergency paper ballots to be filled out by pen. The proposed rule, which is scheduled for a vote Wednesday, provides definitions of “impossible” and “impracticable” with qualifying circumstances.

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Jeanne Dufort, a county Democratic official and an author of the bipartisan