HB 604 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Elections; authorize local election superintendents to conduct manual recounts of ballots following the computation, canvassing, and tabulation of returns

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as authorize local election superintendents to conduct manual recounts of ballots following the computation, canvassing, and tabulation of returns in an election; to address discrepancies raised by such recounts; to provide for the termination of such recounts if they conflict with other duties of the superintendent; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Last action Apr 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC 47 3444/a → LC 47 3513S/hs · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended from a 'manual recount' to a 'hand accounting' of ballots. This change clarifies that the recount process will focus on a single race appearing on the ballots rather than all ballots, and the terminology shift from 'manual recount' to 'hand accounting' may reflect a more specific procedural approach to verifying vote counts.

Scope change

The scope of the recount process was narrowed from all ballots to one race appearing on the ballots, and the terminology was changed from 'manual recount' to 'hand accounting'.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the terminology from 'manual recount' to 'hand accounting' throughout the bill text.

SCOPE

Narrowed the scope of the recount from all ballots cast to only one race appearing on the ballots within a county or municipality.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted line numbering and formatting in the legislative text to reflect the committee substitute version.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

House Withdrawn, Recommitted

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors