ATLANTA - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signaled that he's backing off efforts to move a transportation tax vote until next year's general election.

Deal told reporters at the state Capitol on Thursday that if the Legislature wants to consider moving the date on the vote when they reconvene next year they can. But the Republican governor said he won't play a leading role in the effort. He noted the original proposal - allowing 12 regions around the state to ask voters whether to hike their sales tax by 1-cent to pay for transportation projects - was initiated under his predecessor, Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Earlier, Deal had said moving the date from the July 2012 primary to the general election was important to allow more Georgians to participate in the vote.