The Georgia State Senate passed a new amendment (SB 3EX) on the 20th (local time) to mandate a hand recount for elections where the top two candidates by vote count proceed to a runoff, despite opposition from Democratic senators.

Democrats had already voiced their opposition in the Senate Ethics Committee on the 18th, citing that the bill does not guarantee their party a seat on the committee to establish a new voting system. Democrats also opposed the amendment itself.

State Senator Kim Jackson (Democrat, Stone Mountain) stated that the amendment would place a burden on Georgia's 159 counties.

Jackson said, "Fulton County will have to hire a significant number of personnel to hand-count all ballots for the Senate and gubernatorial elections," and criticized, "A party that claims to be conservative is imposing a massive cost burden on each county by requiring hand counts."

Jackson accused, "This will be an even more deceptive act, passing an unconstitutional bill that is outside the scope of the governor's proclamation, while wasting taxpayers' money."

The bill, having passed the Senate Ethics Committee, establishes a nine-member committee to recommend a new voting system and extends the deadline for Senate Bill 189 from July 1st to January 1st, 2028.

Governor Brian Kemp stated that the reason for convening a special session was "to address issues arising from the July 1, 2026, effective date of Senate Bill 189."

Senators passed the bill by a partisan vote of 33 to 19. The bill was then sent to the House Government Affairs Committee, where it underwent deliberation and hearings on Monday. However, the schedule for a full House vote has not yet been released.

Previously, the Georgia Senate had passed a bill mandating hand-counting for the upcoming November election. That bill was also passed with amendments by the House at the end of May.

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Reporter, NNP America / Special Contribution to this newspaper NNP info@newsandpost.com