Georgia House votes to require watermarks on election ballots

In this Jan. 5, 2021 file photo, Fulton County, Georgia, elections workers process absentee ballots for a U.S. Senate runoff election in Atlanta. Georgia's state House voted on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, to require watermarks on ballots, with the bill moving on to the state Senate for more debate. (AP Photo/Ben Gray, File)

Georgia voters could see a watermark on their ballot beginning in November, a move Republican supporters said would assure citizens that their ballots are authentic.

The House on Wednesday voted 167-1 for House Bill 976, sending it to the Senate for more debate.

“It will bring more confidence from our people who vote, and it’s something we need to restore.” said Rep. Steve Tarvin, a Chickamauga Republican.