It’s unclear whether the bills will satisfy conservative election watchdogs who remain concerned that outdated registrations could be used to cast fraudulent absentee ballots. Few cases of ineligible voting have been confirmed by state election investigations.

Activists are preparing to file more challenges to Georgia voters before this year’s election.

“Our goal is to make it easier to vote but harder to cheat, and I think these bills go a long way toward that,” said Mark Davis, a Gwinnett County resident who analyzes voter registration lists and testified at a state Senate hearing on voter challenges in February. “There’s still some things left to do in the next session of the Legislature.”

Georgia election bills

—House Bill 974: Would add watermarks to ballots, display ballot pictures online, require more audits of statewide elections and use technology to verify the accuracy of text on ballots.

—House Bill 1207: Would require that election workers be U.S. citizens, allow fewer voting machines on election days, guarantee poll watchers close access and allow candidates to proof ballots for errors.

—House Bill 1312: Would reschedule canceled elections for the Public Service Commission amid an ongoing court case over whether statewide elections weaken Black voting strength in violation of the Voting Rights Act.

—Senate Bill 189: Would change rules for mass voter challenges, eliminate computer QR codes from ballots, add ballot security procedures and ease requirements for third-party presidential candidates to appear on Georgia ballots.

—Senate Bill 368: Would prohibit foreign campaign contributions, which are already banned by federal law and haven’t been found in Georgia.

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