On Tuesday, March 3, 2020, the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections voted 3-2 at their regular monthly meeting to discontinue the use of the new statewide paper-based electronic voting equipment and instead use the backup hand-marked paper ballot system for voters in the March 24, 2020 Presidential Preference Primary Election.

Members of the Board of Elections cited concerns about voter privacy in reaching this decision. Audio recordings of Board of Elections meetings are available at www.accgov.com/agendacenter under the Board of Elections category.

The change currently affects voters who vote during the remainder of Early Voting through March 20 and for voters who vote on Election Day on March 24 at their precincts. Voters began using hand-marked paper ballots on Wednesday, March 4, the morning after the vote. Absentee voters already use a hand-marked paper ballot system.

On Wednesday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m., the Georgia State Election Board will hold a hearing at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Room K-L concerning the decision by the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections. The hearing is open to the public.