Georgia voters could see watermarks on November ballots if a bill pushed by the state House gets Senate approval.
The House approved H.B. 976 in a 167-1 vote last week, sending it to the Senate. The measure would ensure all ballots counted in elections are official ballots. Numerous allegations about fraudulent ballots persist even four years after the controversial 2020 election. The bill would take effect July 1 if approved and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.
The cost of buying watermark equipment would be around $100,000, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Officials said the move would be a low-cost, high-quality move and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger supports the measure.
Security paper is used for Georgia ballots after the state legislature passed a law in 2021. The security paper can only be detected by a laser wand so adding a watermark is considered another safeguard. That is particularly true when it comes to absentee ballots, according to Georgia officials.
