Election policy in Georgia
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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.
Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Georgia:
Poll times
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
In Georgia, polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Eastern Time. In cities with a population greater than 300,000 people, polls remain open until 8 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[2][3]
Voter registration
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Georgia, a person must be a United States citizen and a legal resident of Georgia and the county where they wish to vote. The voter must be at least 17.5 years of age at the time of registration and 18 years old at the time of the election. A person must also not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction or have been ruled mentally incompetent by a court.[4][5]
The deadline to register to vote is the fifth Monday prior to the election. Registration can be completed online, in person, or by mail.[4][5][6][7]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
In Georgia, eligible voters are automatically registered to vote when they conduct transactions at the Department of Driver Services. An eligible voter may opt-out of registration.[8][9]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Georgia has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
- See also: Same-day voter registration
Georgia does not allow same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Georgia, a voter must be a resident of the state, and of the county in which they are registering. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.[4]
Verification of citizenship
Georgia compares the driver's license number or Social Security number on a person's voter registration form against state records to see if a person has provided proof of citizenship previously when applying for a driver's license or ID card. If they have not, an individual will be notified that they must provide proof of citizenship to be registered to vote.[10][11][12]
In Georgia, an individual must also attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who provides false information on the application is guilty of a felony.[13]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[14] Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Three states, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means.[15] One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The site GA My Voter Page, run by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
Early voting
- See also: Early voting
Georgia allows for early voting. The early voting period begins on the fourth Monday before the election and ends on the Friday before Election Day. Early voting hours run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but may be extended to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. State law also requires early voting on the second and third Saturdays before the election, and counties may offer additional early voting hours on weekends if they choose. Early voting takes place at board of registrars offices and additional locations if approved by the county.[16]
For more information on early voting in Georgia, visit this website.
Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Georgia. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee. A voter may request an absentee ballot between 78 days and 11 days before Election Day. A completed ballot must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.[17][18]
All states allow for some form of absentee/mail-in voting. Seven states and the District of Columbia had automatic mail-in ballot systems that mandate that all eligible voters receive an absentee/mail ballot by default. An eighth state, Vermont, had such a system for general elections only.
Twenty-nine states allow any eligible voter to cast an absentee/mail-in ballot. The remaining 13 states required voters to provide an excuse to receive and cast an absentee/mail ballot. Acceptable excuses vary by state.
Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
An absentee ballot in Georgia must be received by the voter’s county election official by the time the polls close on Election Day in order to be counted. Ballots can be submitted by mail, in person, or to a drop box, by the voter or a voter's family member or a person living in their household. A voted absentee ballot of a voter with a physical disability may also be returned by a caregiver.[16]
Eighteen states allow anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allow anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allow only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Ten states and D.C. do not specify who may return ballots.
Drop box availability
- See also: Ballot drop box laws by state
Georgia law requires each county to establish at least one drop box. State law says: "A board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk shall establish at least one drop box as a means for absentee by mail electors to deliver their ballots to the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk.” Local officials may establish additional drop boxes but they "may only establish additional drop boxes totaling the lesser of either one drop box for every 100,000 active registered voters in the county or the number of advance voting locations in the county." Drop boxes must have "adequate lighting and be under constant surveillance by an election official or his or her designee, law enforcement official, or licensed security guard." Ballots also must be collected from the drop box each day by a team of at least two people.[19]
Signature requirements and cure provisions
Absentee ballots in Georgia include a return envelope printed with an oath that the voter must sign in order for the ballot to be counted. If the envelope is missing a signature or election officials determine that the signature on the envelope does not match the voter’s signature already on file, the ballot will be rejected. Georgia law also requires voters to provide a driver's license, state identification card number, or social security number with their returned ballot.[16][20]
Georgia law includes a cure provision allowing voters to fix a problem with the signature or other information on their ballot. Georgia law requires election officials to notify a voter whose absentee ballot has been rejected. Voters have until the third day after the election to cure or fix the issues they have been notified about.[17][20][21]
Thirty-four states have laws that include cure provisions, while 15 states do not. One state, Pennsylvania, allows counties to establish a cure process. Twenty-four states explicitly allow voters to cure their ballots after Election Day, seven states require that curing take place on or before Election Day, and three states do not stipulate ballot curing timelines in statute.
Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?
Voters can use the GA My Voter Page website provided by the Georgia Secretary of State to check the status of their absentee ballot and absentee ballot application.
Voter identification requirements
- See also: Voter ID in Georgia
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Georgia requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[22]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2026. Click here for the Georgia Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.[22]
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To view Georgia law pertaining to voter identification, click here
Voters can obtain a free voter ID card from any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services Office. Click here for more information on obtaining a free voter ID card in Georgia.
Thirty-six states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 require voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 14 states do not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.
Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, passports, and military identification cards.
Provisional balloting for voters without ID
Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast provisional ballots. See below for provisional ballot rules.
Provisional ballot rules
Voters in Georgia are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.[26][27][21]
1) If the voter does not have the proper identification, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
2) If the voter registered to vote by mail and did not provide any identification at the time and is unable to do so the first time the voter votes in person, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
3) If the voter’s name does not appear on the list of registered voters in the precinct, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot. If the voter is registered in the same county but appears at the wrong precinct during the period between 5:00 p.m. and the close of polls, the voter must "execute a sworn statement, witnessed by the poll official, stating that he or she is unable to vote at his or her correct polling place prior to the closing of the polls and giving the reason therefor" before voting a provisional ballot.[27]
4) If a polling place is kept open after 7:00 p.m. because of a court order, "all voters who vote after the normal closing time for the polling place shall vote by provisional ballot."[26]
A provisional ballot is accepted in the following circumstances:[26]
- If the voter provided proper identification three days after the close of the polls to the county registrar office, the vote will count.
- If a provisional ballot is cast because the voter’s name did not appear on the list of registered voters in the precinct, the county registrar has up to three days after the election to determine if the person was properly registered to vote in that election. If the voter is properly registered, the vote will count.[26]
- If the voter voted in the wrong precinct, only the votes for candidates for which a person is entitled to vote will be counted.[26]
A provisional ballot is rejected if a person did not timely register to vote, was not eligible to vote in the precinct where they voted, or if a person's eligibility cannot be determined within three days after the election.[21]
Was your provisional ballot counted?
County election officials contact voters "to tell the voter if their ballot was counted or not, and if not, why it was not counted."[28]
Primary election type
- See also: Primary elections in Georgia
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Georgia utilizes an open primary system, in which any voter can participate in a political party's primary election regardless of their partisan affiliation. A candidate must win a majority of votes cast in the primary in order to win the election. If no candidate wins an outright majority, a runoff primary is held between the top two vote-getters.[29][30]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Time off work for voting
In Georgia, employers must grant employees two hours of unpaid leave at the beginning or end of their workday for voting, either during early voting or on Election Day, provided the worker has given reasonable notice. State law says the following:[31]
| “ | Each employee in this state shall, upon reasonable notice to his or her employer, be permitted by his or her employer to take any necessary time off from his or her employment to vote in any municipal, county, state, or federal political party primary or election for which such employee is qualified and registered to vote either on one of the days that are designated for advance in-person voting or on the day on which such primary or election is held; provided, however, that such necessary time off shall not exceed two hours. The employer may specify the hours during which the employee may absent himself or herself as provided in this Code section.[25] | ” |
Twenty-eight states require employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies vary as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.
Electioneering
Georgia state law restricts certain activities within 150 feet of polling places and within 25 feet of a voter waiting in line to vote. State law says:[32]
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No person shall solicit votes in any manner or by any means or method, nor shall any person distribute or display any campaign material, nor shall any person give, offer to give, or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink, to an elector, nor shall any person solicit signatures for any petition, nor shall any person, other than election officials discharging their duties, establish or set up any tables or booths on any day in which ballots are being cast: |
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State law also prohibits candidates from entering "any polling place other than the polling place at which that person is authorized to cast his or her ballot for that primary, election, special primary, or special election and, after casting his or her ballot, the candidate shall not return to such polling place until after the poll has closed and voting has ceased or other than to transact business with the board of registrars."
Violations of the electioneering prohibition are punishable by a misdemeanor.[32]
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
In Georgia, people convicted of a felony are unable to vote until the completion of their sentence, including prison, probation, parole, and payment of fines owed. Voting rights are automatically restored once the sentence is completed.[11] Individuals who pleaded nolo contendere to a felony offense may vote while serving their sentence.[33]
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[34]
Voter list maintenance
All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls, or check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[35] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to a change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[36]
When names can be removed from the voter list
Georgia law authorizes local election officials to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:[37][38][39][40][41]
- Has their registration challenged by another elector and the board of registrars uphold that challenge,
- Is determined to be mentally incompetent,
- Identifies themselves as being a non citizen during jury service,
- Has made a written request to be removed,
- Confirms in writing that they moved outside of their voting jurisdiction,
- Dies,
- Is convicted of a felony, or
- Remains on the inactive voter registration list through two general elections.
Inactive voter list rules
Voters who the Georgia Secretary of State’s office determines to have moved by using National Change of Address data are sent address confirmation notices. If the voter does not respond to the notice, the secretary of state’s office is to place them on an inactive voter registration list.[42]
In odd-numbered years, state law requires the secretary of state’s office to identify all voters with whom there has been "no contact" within the past five preceding calendar years. State law defines "no contact" to mean "that the elector has not filed an updated voter registration card, has not filed a change of name or address, has not signed a petition which is required by law to be verified by the election superintendent of a county or municipality or the Secretary of State, has not signed a voter's certificate, has not submitted an absentee/mail-in ballot application or voted an absentee/mail-in ballot, and has not confirmed the elector's continuation at the same address during the preceding five calendar years." These voters are to be sent confirmation of address notices. If the notice is not returned, the voter is placed on an inactive voter registration list.[43]
Inactive voters are not included in calculations for election administration procedures. Inactive voters are eligible to vote under Georgia law but must verify their address at their polling place. If a voter remains in inactive status through two general elections, their registration is to be canceled.[41]
Citizenship checks and voter list maintenance
County clerks of court are required to provide monthly reports to the secretary of state regarding individuals who were deemed to be noncitizens when presenting for jury duty. County election officials are required to remove any individuals determined to be noncitizens from the voter rolls.[39]
As of June 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reported that the Georgia Secretary of State was registered with the agency as using SAVE data for voter registration and voter list maintenance.[44]
The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[45]
Twenty-five states are participating members in the ERIC program. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have joined and participated in ERIC at some point.[46]
As of April 2026, Georgia was a participating member in ERIC.[47]
Post-election auditing
Georgia state law requires post-election audits. State law requires local election boards to complete a risk-limiting audit that uses statistical methods "to limit to acceptable levels the risk of certifying a preliminary election outcome that constitutes an incorrect outcome."[48] The audit must include the race at the top of the ballot and at least one other contest. Election officials conduct a manual inspection of ballots and must include at least one of every type of ballot cast in the election. Audits may be ordered in additional contests if circumstances warrant. Election officials must conduct the audit in public view and complete the audit before the certification of election results.[48]
Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[49][50]
Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia require some form of post-election audit by law. Of these, 36 states and the District of Columbia require traditional post-election audits, while seven states require risk-limiting post-election audits, and seven states require some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.[51][49]
Ballot access
See statutes: Title 21, Chapter 2, Article 4 of the Georgia Code
There are four ways for a candidate to gain ballot access in Georgia: as a political party candidate, as a political organization candidate, as an independent candidate or as a write-in.
Requirements for all candidates
All candidates are required to pay a filing fee; filing fees vary from year-to-year. In lieu of a filing fee, a candidate may submit a pauper's affidavit and qualifying petition, which certifies that the candidate is unable to pay the fee. The affidavit includes a financial statement that lists the candidate's total income, assets, liabilities, and other relevant financial information. This information must indicate that the candidate has neither the assets nor the income to pay the qualifying fee normally required. The pauper's affidavit must be accompanied by a qualifying petition containing signatures as follows:[52]
- One-fourth of 1 percent of the total number of registered voters eligible to vote in the last general election if the candidate is seeking statewide office
- 1 percent of the total number of registered voters eligible to vote in the last election for the office being sought by the candidate if the candidate is seeking an office other than statewide office
Political party candidates
A political party candidate is nominated at his or her party's primary election. An individual cannot become a political party candidate if he or she has already qualified for the same primary election with a different political party, or if he or she has filed as an independent or political organization candidate. Political parties determine the rules for qualifying to appear on the primary election ballot. However, there are some stipulations set by the state to which all political party candidates must adhere. These include the following:[53][54][55]
- filing a declaration of candidacy and an affidavit with the political party during the political party qualifying period, which is set by the Georgia Secretary of State; the affidavit must state the following:
- the name of the candidate as he or she wishes it to appear on the ballot
- the candidate’s residence
- the candidate’s occupation
- the candidate’s precinct
- that the candidate is eligible to vote in the primary in which he or she is running
- the office the candidate is seeking
- that the candidate is eligible to hold the office he or she is seeking
- that the candidate will not knowingly violate any election rule or law
- that the candidate has never been convicted or sentenced for violation of election laws, malfeasance in office or a felony involving moral turpitude, or, if the candidate has been convicted and sentenced for such crimes, that at least 10 years have passed since completion of the sentence and that the candidate's civil rights have been restored
- paying the qualifying fee or submitting a pauper's affidavit and the accompanying qualifying petition
Within three days of the end of the qualifying period, a political party must certify to the Georgia Secretary of State a list of those candidates who successfully qualified with the party for the primary election and turn in the qualifying fees paid by the candidates, the declarations of candidacy, and the affidavits.[56]
Political organization candidates
A political organization candidate can be nominated by his or her organization's convention, if the political organization has qualified to hold such a convention, or by petition. A candidate cannot file as a political organization candidate if he or she has already filed for the same office as a political party candidate.[54]
If nominated by convention, a political organization candidate must file a notice of candidacy with the Georgia Secretary of State during the political party qualifying period. After a candidate is chosen at the convention, the candidate must pay the filing fee for the corresponding office to the Georgia Secretary of State. If the candidate cannot afford the filing fee, he or she must file a pauper's affidavit and accompanying qualifying petition. With the filing fee or pauper's affidavit, a certified copy of the minutes of the convention, attested to by the chairperson and secretary of the convention, must also be filed.[52][57]
If nominated by petition, a political organization candidate must file a notice of candidacy, petition, and qualifying fee (or pauper's affidavit) with the Georgia Secretary of State during the independent candidate qualifying period, which starts on the fourth Monday in June and ends the following Friday. The signature requirements for these petitions are the same as those for independent candidates, which are listed below. In order for a candidate filing by petition to be recognized as a political organization candidate, the political organization must provide a sworn certificate stating that the named candidate is the nominee of that political organization.[52][58]
Independent candidates
A candidate cannot run as an independent if he or she has qualified for the same office with any political party or political organization. An independent candidate must file a notice of candidacy, petition, and qualifying fee (or pauper's affidavit) with the Georgia Secretary of State during the independent candidate qualifying period, which starts on the fourth Monday in June and ends the following Friday. The signature requirements for the petitions are as follows:[52][54][58]
- For a candidate seeking statewide office, the petition must be signed by registered voters equal in number to 1 percent of the total registered voters eligible to vote in the last election for the same office the candidate is seeking.
- For candidates seeking any other office, the petition must be signed by registered voters equal in number to 5 percent of the total registered voters eligible to vote in the last election for the same office the candidate is seeking.
Petitions cannot be circulated for more than 180 days between the signing of the first signature and the last.[58]
Write-in candidates
A write-in candidate can only run in the general election. A candidate cannot run as a write-in if he or she ran for the same office as a political party candidate in the immediately preceding primary election. A write-in candidate must file a notice of intention of write-in candidacy with the Georgia Secretary of State no earlier than January 1 in the year of the election and no later than the first Monday in September in the year of the election. After the notice of intention is filed, a notice must also be published in a newspaper with general circulation in the state. Once this notice has been published, the candidate must file with the Georgia Secretary of State a copy of the published notice, as well as an affidavit stating that the notice has been published. The affidavit can be filled out by the candidate or by the publisher or an employee of the newspaper.[59]
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Georgia
Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Georgia's 14 United States Representatives and 236 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[60][61][62][63]
Georgia was apportioned 14 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Georgia after the 2020 census.
State process
- See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures
In Georgia, both congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority in each chamber is required to approve redistricting plans, which are subject to veto by the governor.[64]
The Georgia Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous. There are no similar requirements for congressional districts.[64][65]
Election administration authorities
State election officials
In Georgia, the secretary of state and the Georgia State Election Board share election administration responsibilities.
The secretary of state is an elected position in Georgia. According to the secretary's website: "The Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s Office organizes and oversees all election activity, including voter registration, municipal, state, county, and federal elections. They are responsible for certification of election results as well as certifying the qualification of candidates and preparation of ballots and election forms and materials."[66]
The five members of the Georgia State Election Board include one nonpartisan chairperson appointed by a joint resolution of both houses of the Georgia General Assembly, and one member appointed by each of the following entities: the Georgia House of Representatives, Georgia State Senate, the Republican Party of Georgia and the Democratic Party of Georgia.[67]
According to the secretary of state's website, the responsibilities of the State Election Board include:[68]
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Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Noteworthy events
Rule changes adopted by the Georgia State Election Board and legal challenges (2024-2025)
Ahead of the November 5, 2024, general election, the Georgia State Election Board (SEB) proposed and adopted a series of rule changes related to election administration in the state. The board adopted at least 10 new rules beginning in August. The Fulton County Superior Court blocked seven of them before the election, while the remaining three went into effect on October 22. Democracy Docket, which says it "delivers detailed analysis and expert commentary on voting rights and election litigation and policy," reported the rules as follows:[69][70]
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At least seven lawsuits were filed in response to the new rules.[70] See below for a timeline of events related to the litigation:
- August 15, 2025
The parties involved in the case jointly agreed to dismiss the remaining claims in the lawsuit that the Georgia Supreme Court sent back to the trial court.[84]
- June 10, 2025
The Georgia Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision agreeing with the lower court that the State Elections Board did not have the authority to adopt four of the seven rules challenged by plaintiffs.[81][82] The court remanded the case to the lower court for reconsideration of standing for the challenges to two rules, the poll watcher and the daily reporting rule, while it found that the rule requiring surveillance of drop boxes did not violate state law.[83] Chief Justice Nels Peterson wrote in the opinion that "the SEB can pass rules to implement and enforce the Election Code, but it cannot go beyond, change, or contradict the statutory scheme."[83] Read the full opinion below.
June 10 state supreme court opinion - March 19, 2025
The state supreme court held oral arguments in the case.[80]
- December 17, 2024
The Georgia Supreme Court consolidated the appeals.[79]
- December 9, 2024
The state of Georgia appealed the October 16 order to the state supreme court.[78]
Click here to read more about the state election board.
Federal appeals court ruling on postage for absentee/mail-in ballots (2021)
On August 27, 2021, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit unanimously affirmed a lower court's decision finding that a Georgia law requiring voters to pay the price of postage for returning absentee ballots does not constitute an illegal poll tax. The plaintiffs had argued that requiring absentee voters to pay the price of postage amounted to levying a poll tax, violating the Fourteenth and Twenty-Fourth Amendments to the United States Constitution. The defendants (state and local election officials) moved to dismiss.
A U.S. District Court granted the motion to dismiss, citing "[t]he fact that any registered voter may vote in Georgia on election day without purchasing a stamp, and without undertaking any 'extra steps' besides showing up at the voting precinct and complying with generally applicable election regulations." The plaintiffs then appealed to the Eleventh Circuit.[85]
The Eleventh Circuit panel—comprising Judges Elizabeth Branch (a Donald Trump (R) appointee), Britt Grant (another Trump appointee), and Edward Carnes (a George H.W. Bush (R) appointee)—unanimously affirmed the lower court's ruling. Branch, writing for the court, said, "While voting often involves incidental costs like transportation, parking, child care, taking time off work, and—for those who choose to vote absentee by mail—the cost of a postage stamp, those incidental costs do not mean that Georgia has imposed an unconstitutional poll tax or fee on its voters."[85]
In response to the ruling, Sean Young, legal director for the Georgia affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (which was involved in the suit on behalf of the plaintiffs), said, "We are disappointed in the outcome. The ACLU of Georgia will continue to protect the sacred fundamental right to vote." Regarding the possibility of an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, Young said, "All legal options remain on the table."[86]
Election administration procedures changed (2021)
On March 25, 2021, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) signed SB202 into law, enacting a series of changes to the state's election administration procedures, including (but not limited to) the following:[87]
- Absentee/mail-in voting:
- Absentee/mail-in ballots verified on the basis of driver's license numbers instead of voter signatures (the last four digits of a Social Security number, and a date of birth, permissible in lieu of a driver's license number).
- Ballot drop boxes made available only inside early voting locations during business hours.
- Ballot application deadline fixed at 11 days before Election Day.
- Early voting:
- For general elections, counties required to offer early voting on two Saturdays; counties authorized, but not required, to offer early voting on two Sundays.
- For runoff elections, early voting period limited to a minimum of one week.
- Other election administration matters:
- State Election Board authorized to remove county election boards and replace them with interim election managers.
- Counties required to certify election results within six days instead of 10.
- Prohibited the use of "photographic or other electronic monitoring or recording devices ... to photograph or record a voted ballot."
The full text of the enacted bill can be accessed here.
In its original form, SB202 would have barred persons and entities from sending unsolicited absentee/mail-in ballot applications to voters who had already requested, been issued, or voted an absentee/mail-in ballot. On March 25, 2021, the Georgia House of Representatives approved an amended version of the bill (which included the aforementioned changes) by a vote of 74. Later that day, the Georgia State Senate concurred in the House amendments by a vote of 34-20. Both the House and Senate votes split along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor of the bill and Democrats voting against it.[87][88]
Upon signing the bill into law, Kemp said, "After the November election last year, I knew like so many of you that significant reforms to our state elections were needed. When voting in person in the state of Georgia, you must have a photo ID. It only makes sense for the same standard to apply to absentee ballots as well."[89]
Six lawsuits were filed, arguing that different elements of the bill violated federal law.[90] The lawsuits were ultimately consolidated into a single case, which the U.S. Department of Justice joined in 2024. Attorney General Pam Bondi withdrew the DOJ's complaint on March 31, 2025.[90]
On August 18, 2023, Judge J.P. Boulee of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia temporarily blocked a portion of the law restricting the distribution of food and water to voters within 150 feet of a polling place by outside groups. Boulee also blocked a requirement that voters provide their birthdate on the absentee ballot envelope.[91] The state of Georgia appealed the ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on September 19, 2023 and the court heard oral arguments in August 2025.[92] On December 1, 2025, the appeals court vacated Boulee's order blocking the provisions regarding the distribution of food and water and sent the case back to the district court for further consideration.[93]
On October 11, 2023, Boulee denied a request for a temporary injunction against several other provisions of the bill, including the absentee ballot deadline changes and drop box regulations.[94] On September 9, 2025, Boulee ruled that provisions of the bill restricting pre-filled absentee ballot applications were constitutional.[95][96]
Federal judge requires state to allow voters to correct signature mismatches (2018)
On October 25, 2018, Judge Leigh Martin May of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued a temporary restraining order requiring Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R) to give the following instructions to state election officials:[97]
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May found that the plaintiffs in two lawsuits were likely to succeed in their due process challenge of the state's signature matching requirements.[98]
Kemp requested that May stay the order pending appeal. His attorneys wrote, "Last-minute challenges to longstanding election procedures have long been disfavored because they threaten to disrupt the orderly administration of elections, which is essential to the functioning of our participatory democracy." Andrea Young, executive director of ACLU Georgia, which was a party to one of the lawsuits, said, "We are disappointed that the Secretary of State is unwilling to grant due process to Georgia citizens who vote by absentee ballot."[99] May did not stay the order.[100]
On November 2, 2018, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit denied Kemp's request for a stay of May's order.[101] In a March 21, 2019, written opinion, Judges Jill Pryor and Kevin Newsom issued concurrences in the denial of the stay, and Judge Gerald Tjoflat issued a dissent.[102]
The table below lists bills related to election policy that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Georgia. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official bill name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Sponsor party
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Policy Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
Election policy ballot measures
Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Georgia.
- Georgia Amendment 1, Elective Franchise Measure (1978)
- Georgia Amendment 10, Qualifications of Write-in Candidates Amendment (1962)
- Georgia Amendment 13, Troup County Board of Education Elections Measure (1952)
- Georgia Amendment 14, Dawson County Board of Education Elections Measure (1950)
- Georgia Amendment 1A, State Senate Composition and Elections Amendment (1962)
- Georgia Amendment 2, Elections of Officials Measure (1950)
- Georgia Amendment 31, Hancock County Board of Education Elections Measure (1950)
- Georgia Amendment 32, Meriwether County Board of Education Elections Measure (1950)
- Georgia Amendment 33, Brantley County School Districts and Board of Education Elections Measure (1952)
- Georgia Amendment 34, Carroll County Board of Education School Districts and Elections Measure (1952)
- Georgia Amendment 35, Appling County Board of Education Elections Measure (1952)
- Georgia Amendment 35, Rockdale County Board of Education Elections Measure (1950)
- Georgia Amendment 36, Schley County Board of Education Elections Measure (1950)
- Georgia Amendment 37, Taylor County Board of Education Elections Measure (1950)
- Georgia Amendment 42, Floyd County Board of Education Elections Measure (1952)
- Georgia Amendment 44, Rockdale County School Superintendent Appointment Measure (1952)
- Georgia Amendment 5, Baldwin County Board of Education Elections Measure (1950)
Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia
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These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.
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Ballotpedia's election coverage
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See also
- Election laws and legislation in Georgia
- State of Election Policy Legislation Reports
- Factors affecting the speed of ballot counting and delivery of unofficial election results
- Voting in Georgia
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Georgia
- Redistricting in Georgia
Elections in Georgia
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
- ↑ State of Georgia, "Vote in Person on Election Day," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-403," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Georgia Secretary of State, "How-to Guide: Registering to Vote," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Georgia.gov, "Register to Vote," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Fulton County, "Voter Registration," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-224," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Georgia Automatic Voter Registration Surges After Web Fix," May 24, 2022
- ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Automatic registration leads to surge of new Georgia voters," April 29, 2019
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "States Consider Options to Ensure That Noncitizens Aren’t Voting," January 30, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Georgia Secretary of State, "FAQs," accessed April 22, 2026 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "FAQs" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2-216," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Georgia Voter Registration Application," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Florida's law takes effect on January 1, 2027
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-385," accessed April 22, 2026 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "gastatuts" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 17.0 17.1 Georgia.gov, "Vote by Absentee Ballot," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "A Guide for Registered Voters," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-382," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-386," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-419," accessed April 22, 2026 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "provstat" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 22.0 22.1 Georgia Secretary of State, "Georgia Voter Identification Requirements," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Under a 2025 law, a driver's license must be in a physical format and issued by the Department of Driver Services.
- ↑ This includes colleges, universities, and technical colleges.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Georgia Secretary of State, "Provisional Ballot Voting Guide," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-418," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Augusta, Georgia, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-224," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-501," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-404," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-414," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Office of the Attorney General, "Official Opinion 98-2," January 8, 1998
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Restoration of Rights for Felons," March 13, 2026
- ↑ As of January 2026, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
- ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed January 12, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-229," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-230," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-231," accessed April 22, 2026 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "checks" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-232," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-235," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-233," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-234," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, "SAVE," accessed June 22, 2026
- ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed January 12, 2026
- ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed January 12, 2026
- ↑ ERIC, "What is ERIC?" accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-498," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed January 12, 2026
- ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed January 12,2026
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in October 2024, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 52.3 Georgia Code, "Section 21-2-132," accessed February 5, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Code, "Section 21-2-151," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 Georgia Code, "Section 21-2-137," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ Georgia Code, "Section 21-2-153," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ Georgia Code, "Section 21-2-154," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ Georgia Code, "Section 21-2-172," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 Georgia Code, "Section 21-2-170," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ Georgia Code, "Section 21-2-133," accessed March 6, 2025
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
- ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
- ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
- ↑ 64.0 64.1 All About Redistricting, "Georgia," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Georgia Constitution, "Article 3, Section 2," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "About the Elections Division," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-30," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "About the State Election Board," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "About Us," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ 70.0 70.1 Democracy Docket, "Georgia State Election Board Faces Barrage of Lawsuits," October 14, 2024
- ↑ Washington Post, "Fulton County Superior Court, Cobb County v. State Election Board, Order granting declaratory and injunctive relief," October 15, 2024
- ↑ Fulton County Superior Court, "24CV011558, Order granting declaratory and injunctive relief," October 16, 2024
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "Supreme Court of Georgia, Case No. S25M025E, Emergency Motion for Supersedeas," October 19, 2024
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "Georgia Supreme Court to Review Controversial Election Rules," October 21, 2024
- ↑ AP News, "Georgia Supreme Court rejects Republican attempt to quickly reinstate invalidated election rules," October 22, 2024
- ↑ Washington Post, "Fulton County Superior Court, Cobb County v. State Election Board, Order granting declaratory and injunctive relief," October 15, 2024
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "Fulton County Superior Court, 24CV011558, Notice of appeal," November 15, 2024
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "Georgia State Election Board Certification and Drop Box Rules Challenge," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "Supreme Court of Georgia, Case Nos. S25A0362 & S25A0490, Order to consolidate," December 17, 2024
- ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Georgia Supreme Court questions State Election Board on last-minute voting rule changes," March 19, 2025
- ↑ See October 16, 2024, entry for full list of rules the trial court blocked.
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "Georgia Supreme Court Blocks State Election Board’s Anti-Voting Rules," June 10, 2025
- ↑ 83.0 83.1 Democracy Docket, "Supreme Court of Gerogia, S25A0362, Decision," June 10, 2025
- ↑ Superior Court of Fulton County, "PLAINTIFFS’ O.C.G.A. § 9-11-41(a)(1)(B) NOTICE OF DISMISSAL," August 15, 2025
- ↑ 85.0 85.1 United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, "Black Voters Matter Fund v. Raffensperger: Opinion," August 27, 2021
- ↑ The Seattle Times, "Appeals court: Postage for absentee ballots isn’t a poll tax," August 27, 2021
- ↑ 87.0 87.1 Georgia General Assembly, "SB 202," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Sweeping changes to Georgia elections signed into law," March 25, 2021
- ↑ WSB-TV 2, "Gov. Kemp signs controversial voting bill into law; lawmaker arrested protesting it," March 25, 2021
- ↑ 90.0 90.1 Democracy Docket, "Trump’s DOJ Drops Lawsuit Against Georgia’s Voter Suppression Bill," March 31, 2025
- ↑ Legal Defense Fund, "Federal Court Sides with Civil Rights Groups and Lifts Georgia’s Line Relief Ban, Birthdate Requirement on Absentee Ballot Envelopes for 2024 Elections," August 18, 2023
- ↑ Election Law Blog, "11th Circuit issues brief per curiam decision remanding Georgia’s SB 202 electioneering case for further consideration," December 1, 2025
- ↑ United States Court of Appeals For the Eleventh Circuit, "In re: GEORGIA SENATE BILL 202.," December 1, 2025
- ↑ League of Women Voters, "GA State Conference of the NAACP v. Raffensperger (consolidated as In re: Georgia Senate Bill 202)," accessed April 22, 2026
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Raffensperger Wins Again: Court Upholds Georgia's Election Integrity Act," September 9, 2025
- ↑ Augusta Chronicle, "Federal judge upholds absentee ballots provision of Georgia election law SB202," September 9, 2025
- ↑ The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, "Case 1:18-cv-04776-LMM Document 26," October 25, 2018
- ↑ Campaign Legal Center, "Case 1:18-cv-04789-LMM Document 28," October 24, 2018
- ↑ News Channel 9, "Federal judge tweaks her order on Georgia absentee ballots," October 26, 2018
- ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Judge declines Kemp’s request to pause absentee ballot injunction," October 31, 2018
- ↑ American Civil Liberties Union, "Case: 18-14502: On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia," November 2, 2018
- ↑ Justia, "Case: 18-14502: On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia," March 21, 2019











