Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a substitute bill that limits absentee voting to individuals 65 and older.

Highlights:

• Establishes and maintains a telephone hotline for the use of electors of this state to file complaints and allegations of voter intimidation and illegal election activities (Sec. 1-21-2-3).

• Specifies the State Election Board, the members thereof, the Secretary of State, and any of their attorneys or staff will not have any authority to enter into any consent agreement with any other person that limits, alters, or interprets any provision of this law without obtaining the approval of the General Assembly through a joint resolution (Sec. 2-21-2-35).

• Requires the Secretary of State to obtain regular information from a nongovernmental entity regarding electors who may have moved to another state, died, or otherwise become ineligible to vote in Georgia (Sec. 4-3).

• Authorizes the following persons to be “absentee electors” (Sec 6-1):

• Is required to be absent from his or her precinct during the hours designated for advance voting and hours designated for voting on the day of the primary, election, or runoff in which he or she desires to vote;

• Will perform any of the official acts or duties set forth in this chapter in connection with the primary, election, or runoff in which he or she desires to vote;

• Because of physical disability or because of being required to give constant care to someone who is physically disabled, will be unable to be present at the polls on the day of such primary, election, or runoff;

• Because the primary, election, or runoff falls upon a religious holiday observed by such elector, will be unable to be present at the polls on the day of such primary, election, or runoff;

• Is required to remain on duty in his or her place of employment during the entire time the polls are open when such place of employment is within the precinct in which the elector resides;

• Is 65 years of age or older; or

• Is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

• Specifies if the elector does not have a Georgia driver's license or identification card or a social security number, the elector will affirm in the space provided on the envelope and place a copy of identification (Sec. 12.a).

• Prohibits any person from tallying, tabulating, estimating, or attempting to tally, tabulate, or estimate or cause the ballot scanner or any other equipment to produce any tally or tabulation, partial or otherwise, of the absentee ballots cast until the time for the closing of the polls on the day of the primary, election, or runoff (Sec. 13-2.A).

Full Bill Text