ATLANTA — President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on U.S. elections includes a surprising detail that could shake up how votes are counted: it calls for banning ballots with barcodes or QR codes.

While this might sound technical, it could have a major impact. Hundreds of counties in 19 states use voting machines that print ballots with these codes. In fact, three states—Georgia, South Carolina, and Delaware—use such machines statewide.

The controversy around barcode ballots isn’t new. Some computer scientists, Democrats, and election experts have raised concerns about these systems. But it’s the conspiracy theorists—pushing baseless claims about the 2020 election—that have been the loudest critics. Trump’s order says the move is meant “to protect election integrity.”

Even some election officials who trust the security of these systems agree it might be time for a change because many voters simply don’t trust ballots with codes.

Colorado’s Secretary of State, Democrat Jena Griswold, stopped using ballots with QR codes in 2019 to boost voter confidence. Amanda Gonzalez, elections clerk in Colorado’s Jefferson County, supports that decision—even if she doesn’t back Trump’s order.

“We want elections that are free, fair, and transparent,” Gonzalez said. “Eliminating confusion is key.”

Why Barcodes on Ballots Became a Target

Most voters mark their choices on paper ballots, which are then scanned by machines to count votes. But some systems use touchscreens to generate a paper record with a barcode or QR code. The machine reads that code to tally votes.

Election officials say these systems are secure and undergo regular testing to ensure votes match the paper record. Still, conspiracy theories have singled out barcode ballots as suspicious.

“It’s a problem that’s been blown out of proportion,” said Lawrence Norden of the Brennan Center for Justice. “People who don’t understand the technology easily fall for misinformation.”

The conspiracy theories grew louder after a University of Michigan computer scientist testified in a legal battle over Georgia’s voting system. He said attackers could manipulate QR codes and install malware. But no evidence shows this actually happened.

Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, has defended the system. A judge acknowledged some concerns but allowed the machines to continue being used.

Can Trump’s Order Actually Ban Barcode Ballots?

The executive order directs the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to prohibit ballots with barcodes or QR codes. But the EAC only sets voluntary guidelines, and not all states follow them.

Lawsuits are challenging the order, arguing Trump lacks authority over the independent commission. Meanwhile, the EAC’s current guidelines say ballots with barcodes must also include a printed list of voter selections so they can be verified.

The order exempts voting systems for people with disabilities but does not provide federal funding to help states switch to other machines.

Pamela Smith, president of Verified Voting, said vendors are already moving away from barcodes, but change will take time.

Counties Face Big Costs and Decisions

Election officials in smaller counties worry about the cost and time needed to replace barcode-based equipment.

Kim Dennison, Benton County, Arkansas election coordinator, said updating the system could cost $400,000 and take up to a year. Despite the controversy, she fully trusts her equipment’s accuracy.

In Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County, barcode voting machines will be used in the upcoming primary, but officials plan a software update to remove the codes before November.

Los Angeles County—the nation’s most populous—uses a $140 million voting system with QR codes that meets or exceeds federal standards. Its election chief, Dean Logan, said audits have confirmed its accuracy, and changing the system would be expensive and time-consuming.

Georgia: A High-Stakes Battle Over QR Codes

Georgia, a critical battleground state, uses the same QR code system statewide and is at the center of the controversy.

Marilyn Marks, executive director of the Coalition for Good Governance, a plaintiff in lawsuits over the system, says the federal commission should stop certifying machines with barcodes. But her group has not taken a position on Trump’s order.

Georgia’s Republican-controlled legislature passed a law banning QR codes but did not allocate funds to replace the machines—a costly switch estimated at $66 million.

Republicans want to wait until the current voting system contract expires in 2028, but the ban is set to take effect next year. State Rep. Victor Anderson warned, “There’s no realistic way to prevent the train wreck that’s coming.”

What This Means Going Forward

Trump’s order is part of a broader push to overhaul elections with an emphasis on preventing fraud, even as evidence shows no widespread issues with barcode ballots.

Experts say this debate highlights a key challenge: restoring voter trust while balancing security, cost, and practicality.

As election technology evolves, voters and officials alike will need clear communication and transparent processes to ensure confidence in the results—whether ballots have barcodes or not.

Source: AP News – Trump order targets barcodes on ballots. They’ve long been a source of misinformation

The post Why Some States Use Barcoded Ballots — and Why Trump Is Pushing to End Them appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

In a controversial move, the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved legislation that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for anyone registering to vote. The bill, known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (or SAVE Act), is sparking concerns from voting rights groups, who warn that it could disenfranchise millions of Americans—especially those facing barriers to obtaining the required documentation.

The SAVE Act would impose a proof of citizenship requirement for all voter registration applications, significantly impacting how Americans register to vote. While proponents, including President Donald Trump and House Republicans, argue that this will eliminate potential instances of noncitizen voting, critics argue that it risks suppressing the votes of eligible citizens, especially among vulnerable populations.

Despite the bill passing in the House, its future remains uncertain in the Senate, where Republicans lack the votes to overcome a filibuster.

If the bill becomes law, it would require all new voter registrations—and updates to existing registrations—to include documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. This would apply to people who are moving, changing their names, or need to update their voter information.

Rep. Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican and proponent of the bill, clarified that the law would not affect individuals already registered to vote unless they needed to update their information. However, voting rights groups caution that this could lead to significant hurdles for those needing to update their registration, particularly after life events such as moving or changing their name.

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who authored the bill, stated that it aims to create a citizenship-based registration system, but also acknowledged that the process of transitioning to such a system would take time.

To register under the SAVE Act, applicants would need to provide one of the following documents:

• REAL ID-compliant driver’s license that states the applicant is a U.S. citizen.
• U.S. Passport.
• Military ID that includes the applicant’s birthplace in the U.S.
• Certified birth certificate along with a government-issued photo ID showing the applicant’s birthplace.

One of the biggest concerns about the SAVE Act is that many REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses do not explicitly indicate U.S. citizenship. REAL ID, established by Congress in 2005, ensures that IDs meet certain standards, but it doesn’t always include a “citizen” label, even though some states like Michigan and New York do offer IDs that denote citizenship.

As of January 2024, 56% of U.S. driver’s licenses are REAL ID-compliant. However, many people—particularly those who are legal residents but not U.S. citizens—can still obtain a REAL ID. Rep. Roy expressed hope that more states would adopt the citizen-marked REAL ID as a solution.

Another significant issue is that millions of Americans do not have easy access to their birth certificates, which could create barriers for voter registration under the SAVE Act. This could particularly affect women who’ve changed their name after marriage, as their birth certificates may not match their current ID.

Voting rights groups are concerned that these issues could lead to widespread disenfranchisement, especially for marginalized communities. However, the SAVE Act includes a provision directing states to develop processes for accepting supplemental documents (like marriage certificates) to help establish the connection between a birth certificate and a government-issued ID.

Under the SAVE Act, applicants who submit their registration forms by mail would need to provide proof of citizenship in person to their local election office by a deadline set by their state.

This could present major challenges for voters living in rural areas where the nearest election office could be hours away by car. Additionally, states with same-day voter registration would require voters to submit proof of citizenship at the polling location before their ballot is counted.

The bill also raises questions about how states with online voter registration or automatic voter registration (through motor vehicle agencies) will be affected. Democratic election officials have expressed concerns that this legislation could undermine these systems, making the process more cumbersome for voters.

Republicans argue that even a small number of noncitizen votes—no matter how rare—could undermine public trust in U.S. elections. However, Democrats point out that voting by noncitizens is already illegal in federal elections, and violations can result in serious penalties, including fines and deportation.

A recent review in Michigan found that only 15 noncitizens voted in the 2024 general election out of over 5.7 million ballots cast. Of those, 13 were referred for potential criminal charges. Critics argue that these isolated incidents do not justify laws that could potentially block tens of thousands of eligible voters from casting their ballots.

As the bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future, it’s clear that the debate over voter eligibility will continue. Advocates of the SAVE Act argue that it will safeguard U.S. elections, while opponents warn that it could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters—particularly those without easy access to the required documents.

With the fate of the bill hanging in the balance, all eyes will be on how lawmakers address the concerns raised by voting rights groups and ensure that every eligible voter has a fair opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

Source: AP News – How the House’s requirement to prove US citizenship could affect the ability to register to vote

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Road to 270

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, are both trying to make history this year. Harris is hoping to become the first woman elected president, while Trump is vying to become only the second former president to win a nonconsecutive second term after Grover Cleveland in 1892. The election is expected to come down to a handful of battleground states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

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Every four years, Americans head to the polls to elect the president, but it’s the Electoral College votes that ultimately decide the winner between candidates like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

How Electoral Votes Decide the Presidency

The Electoral College is a group of electors who formally cast each state’s votes for the president, a process that’s been in place since the Constitution was written in 1787. Though the system has faced controversy, it remains the method by which a candidate must earn at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win.

How Many Electoral Votes Does Each State Get?

Each state’s number of electoral votes is based on its population size, which is updated according to census data. For example:

• California (with almost 39 million residents) has 54 votes.
• Wyoming (with a population around 577,000) has only 3 votes.
• New York has 28 electoral votes, based on its senators and representatives.

How Does Your Vote Contribute to the Electoral College?

When you cast your ballot, you’re actually voting for a group of electors chosen by your candidate’s party. These electors are pledged to vote according to the popular vote in most states. However, Maine and Nebraska use a different method, allowing electoral votes to be split between candidates based on congressional district results.

While most electors follow the state’s popular vote, in rare cases, they may go against it. Some states penalize such “faithless electors” with fines or replacement by another elector.

Watching Election Night Coverage on NBC

NBC offers multiple ways to watch election coverage on November 5. Viewers can tune into NBC on TV, or stream it via platforms like DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and NBC’s YouTube channel. For a more interactive experience, Peacock’s Election Hub will provide real-time updates, polling insights, and results from the NBC News Decision Desk, allowing viewers to follow the electoral vote count closely.

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