A bill that would require Georgia election officials to hand recount every ballot in any US Senate or gubernatorial race passed the state Senate late Monday evening and now heads to the House, where its prospects are less certain.
Senate Bill 221, sponsored by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), would mandate a risk-limiting audit that includes a full hand count of all ballots cast in any race for federal office or governor, regardless of margin. The bill would also expand the definition of “race” to include lieutenant governor and secretary of state contests.
Supporters said the measure is a response to lingering public concerns about election integrity, particularly in Fulton County, where multiple recounts since 2020 have been closely watched.
“Voters in Georgia deserve to know that every ballot is counted, by hand, by a real person,” Dolezal said on the Senate floor before the 32-22 vote. “This bill makes that promise a legal requirement, not a suggestion.”
Opponents argued the bill would impose enormous costs on county election offices and could delay certification of results by weeks.
“This is a solution in search of a problem,” said Sen. Jen Jordan (D-Atlanta). “Georgia’s election system is among the most scrutinized and most accurate in the country. We already do risk-limiting audits. Mandating a hand recount of every ballot, in every federal race, every cycle, is a waste of taxpayer dollars that will not improve outcomes.”
Election supervisors have estimated the cost of a full hand recount in a high-turnout federal race at between $4 million and $8 million, depending on the county. Fulton County, which has roughly 540,000 registered voters, would bear the largest share of that cost under the bill.
The bill heads to the House, where Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) has not yet indicated whether he will bring it to a vote before the session ends.
If passed and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, the measure would take effect for the 2026 general election cycle.
