BREAKING: First State Considers Paper Ballot-Only Election After Trump’s EO – Others May Be Forced to Join
Arkansas Leads the Charge, Others May Follow
On March 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14248, Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections, sending shockwaves through state election systems nationwide. The order mandates strict compliance with federal election laws, including ensuring only U.S. citizens vote, adhering to the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 (VVSG), and requiring voter-verifiable paper ballots. A key provision, Section 4(b)(i), bans the use of barcodes or QR codes in vote counting, effectively outlawing many ballot marking devices (BMDs) used across the country. As states scramble to comply, Arkansas has emerged as the first to seriously consider a paper ballot-only election, while others, like Georgia, dig in their heels, risking federal repercussions.
Arkansas’s Compliance Crisis
Arkansas, a state with a mix of BMDs and hand-marked paper ballots, is grappling with the financial and logistical fallout of the executive order. The state’s reliance on Election Systems & Software (ES&S) tabulators, which require proprietary paper compatible only with ES&S’s patented Ballot On Demand (BOD) printers, has created a costly bottleneck. According to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by attorney Clinton W. Lancaster, the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office is in disarray.
Lancaster, known for representing President Trump in the 2020 election challenges, revealed internal communications highlighting the state’s predicament. Kevin Niehaus, Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Cole Jester, admitted in an email that the office lacks the budget to purchase the necessary BOD printers following the 2025 Legislative Session. An ES&S lobbyist, in a candid exchange, acknowledged that no alternative certifiable solution exists, leaving Arkansas with few options. Niehaus’s response was stark: “At this point, I’m not entirely certain. I think we are looking at a paper ballot election in Arkansas next year because there doesn’t seem to be a viable solution from ES&S, and nobody is excited about that, especially Cole.”
The prospect of a fully hand-marked paper ballot election in 2026 has sparked concern among election officials, who fear delays in vote counting and increased staffing needs. However, proponents argue it could restore voter confidence by eliminating vulnerabilities associated with electronic systems.
Georgia’s Defiance: A Double Violation
In contrast, Georgia, a critical swing state, has doubled down on its non-compliance. The state, which uses 100% BMDs with QR codes, is not only ignoring the executive order but also flouting its own state law. In May 2024, the Georgia legislature passed Senate Bill 181, which explicitly prohibits QR codes or barcodes in vote tabulation, requiring scanners to count text or machine marks instead. Section 7 of SB181 states:
The official tabulation count of any ballot scanner shall be based upon the text portion or the machine mark, provided that such mark clearly denotes the elector’s selection and does not use a QR code, bar code, or similar coding, of such ballots and not any machine coding that may be printed on such ballots.
Yet, Georgia election officials have taken no steps to implement hand-marked paper ballots, echoing their inaction following Dr. J. Alex Halderman’s 2020 federal court testimony. Halderman, a voting security expert, exposed severe vulnerabilities in Georgia’s Dominion Voting Systems, urging immediate security updates. His warnings went unheeded, and the state’s current stance risks escalating tensions with federal authorities.
Broader State Challenges
Arkansas and Georgia are not alone. States like South Carolina (100% BMDs), Louisiana (100% Direct Recording Electronic systems, or DREs), and Nevada (95.6% DREs) face significant hurdles. DREs, which lack physical ballots and produce only paper receipts, are particularly problematic under the EO’s voter-verifiable ballot requirement. According to Verified Voting, Texas (87.5% BMDs) and California (40.3% BMDs) also rely heavily on non-compliant systems, potentially forcing costly overhauls or a shift to paper ballots.
The financial strain is a common thread. ES&S’s dominance in the voting equipment market, coupled with its patented technology, limits competition and drives costs. States with tight budgets, like Arkansas, may have no choice but to abandon electronic systems altogether, a move that could set a precedent for others.
Legal Battles and Mixed Outcomes
The executive order has not gone unchallenged. On April 24, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued a temporary injunction in League of United Latin American Citizens v. Executive Office of the President, blocking Sections 2(a) and 2(d). These sections required proof of citizenship on mail voter registration forms and citizenship assessments for public assistance program enrollees. Critics, including Democratic Secretaries of State and NGOs, argued these measures could disenfranchise eligible voters. However, the judge upheld provisions allowing identification of unqualified voters and restricting ballot counting to those received by Election Day. Crucially, the barcode ban and paper ballot requirements remain in effect, leaving states with little wiggle room.
What’s Next?
Arkansas’s potential shift to a paper ballot-only election could mark a turning point in how states navigate the executive order. If successful, it may inspire others to follow, particularly those unable to afford new equipment. However, the transition poses risks, including slower vote counts and the need for extensive poll worker training. Georgia’s defiance, meanwhile, could invite federal intervention, especially given its history of election controversies and swing-state status.
Other states face similar dilemmas. Louisiana and Nevada, with their heavy DRE reliance, may need to replace entire systems, a process that could take years. California and Texas, with mixed systems, might opt for partial transitions but will still face significant costs. The ES&S monopoly underscores a broader issue: the lack of vendor diversity in election technology, which hampers flexibility and affordability.
As the 2026 elections loom, the nation watches closely. Will Arkansas lead a return to paper ballots, or will Georgia’s resistance spark a larger showdown? One thing is clear: Executive Order 14248 has reshaped the electoral landscape, and the fallout is just beginning.
Natalie D. is an American conservative writer! Natalie has described herself as a polemicist who likes to “stir up the pot,” and does not “pretend to be impartial or balanced, as broadcasters do,” drawing criticism from the left, and sometimes from the right. As a passionate journalist, she works relentlessly to uncover the corruption happening in Washington.She is a “constitutional conservative”.
Paper Ballots, voter ID, in person and one day to vote, hand counted NO machines and you will have a fair and legitimate election!