Vernon Jones wants to consider paper ballots in bid for Georgia Secretary of State

Jones says election confidence and potential voting changes would be key focuses if elected.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Republican candidate Vernon Jones says restoring trust in Georgia’s elections will be a top priority if he is elected as the state’s next secretary of state.

Jones, a former Democratic state representative and former DeKalb County CEO who later switched parties, is running in a crowded race to become Georgia’s top election official. The secretary of state oversees elections, voter registration, and key business and professional licensing services statewide.

During an interview, Jones pointed to lingering concerns surrounding the 2020 presidential election, saying those issues continue to shape public confidence in Georgia’s voting system.

“With that cloud that’s hanging over Georgia right now, going back to 2020, we’re not trying to relive 2020, but we want to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” Jones said. “Restoring public trust is very important.”

Jones said one proposal he would consider is a return to paper ballots, arguing that some voters feel more confident in a system that relies on physical ballots rather than electronic records.

“There are many who feel that we should go back to the paper ballot,” Jones said. “People felt more comfortable with it. It was a better way to audit versus auditing an image, you’re auditing an actual ballot.”

Georgia currently uses electronic voting machines that produce a paper ballot record, a system that has been repeatedly audited and upheld following the 2020 election.

If elected, Jones says he would also push for stricter voter identification laws and limits on absentee voting, arguing those measures would improve election security.

The primary election for Georgia secretary of state is scheduled for May 19, with the general election set for November 3. Voters are encouraged to verify their registration status ahead of the election.