Signed by Governor Brian Kemp

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends election laws to include provisions related to giving voters waiting in line food and water, eliminating ballot drop boxes, and other alterations.

Highlights:

• Requires the superintendents of precincts with more than 2,000 electors who waited more than one hour on election day to cast a vote to file a report and either reduce the size of the precinct at least 60 days before the next general election or provide more poll workers and voting equipment to speed up the casting of votes (Sec. 18).

• Reduces the time before a primary or general election in which an elector can cast an absentee ballot from 180 days to 78 days and prohibits the distribution of absentee ballots within any less than 11 days before a general election (Sec. 25).

• Requires that absentee ballots be received by the board of registrars or the absentee ballot clerk no later than 11 days before a primary or general election (Sec. 25).

• Requires that the board of registrars or the absentee ballot clerk place absentee ballot drop boxes inside the offices where absentee voting is taking place, such that the drop boxes are closed when absentee voting is not taking place (Sec. 26).

• Requires the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerks to mail out absentee ballots not more than 29 days and not less than 25 days before any presidential preference primary (Sec. 27).

• Requires absentee voters to affirm their identity by providing their Georgia driver’s license or state identification numbers on the outside of the envelope they place their absentee ballot in, or their social security number if they do not have a license of state ID, along with their birth date (Sec. 28).

• Specifies that the advance voting period will be as follows (Sec. 28) 

• It should start on the fourth monday prior to a primary or election and end on the friday immediately prior that primary or election; 

• The voting itself will take place between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays; 

• Saturday voting will occur during the same times on the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays before the election; and 

• Sunday voting will occur on either the 2nd or the 3rd Sunday, or both as per the board of registrars’ and the absentee ballot clerk’s discretion and may not be held for longer than from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

• Prohibits individuals from giving electors any food, drink, or money on the days on which votes are being cast, within 150 feet from any building where polling is taking place, or within 25 feet from a voter line (Sec. 33).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends election laws to include provisions related to giving voters waiting in line food and water, eliminating ballot drop boxes, and other alterations.

Highlights:

• Requires the superintendents of precincts with more than 2,000 electors who waited more than one hour on election day to cast a vote to file a report and either reduce the size of the precinct at least 60 days before the next general election or provide more poll workers and voting equipment to speed up the casting of votes (Sec. 18).

• Reduces the time before a primary or general election in which an elector can cast an absentee ballot from 180 days to 78 days and prohibits the distribution of absentee ballots within any less than 11 days before a general election (Sec. 25).

• Requires that absentee ballots be received by the board of registrars or the absentee ballot clerk no later than 11 days before a primary or general election (Sec. 25).

• Requires that the board of registrars or the absentee ballot clerk place absentee ballot drop boxes inside the offices where absentee voting is taking place, such that the drop boxes are closed when absentee voting is not taking place (Sec. 26).

• Requires the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerks to mail out absentee ballots not more than 29 days and not less than 25 days before any presidential preference primary (Sec. 27).

• Requires absentee voters to affirm their identity by providing their Georgia driver’s license or state identification numbers on the outside of the envelope they place their absentee ballot in, or their social security number if they do not have a license of state ID, along with their birth date (Sec. 28).

• Specifies that the advance voting period will be as follows (Sec. 28) 

• It should start on the fourth monday prior to a primary or election and end on the friday immediately prior that primary or election; 

• The voting itself will take place between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays; 

• Saturday voting will occur during the same times on the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays before the election; and 

• Sunday voting will occur on either the 2nd or the 3rd Sunday, or both as per the board of registrars’ and the absentee ballot clerk’s discretion and may not be held for longer than from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

• Prohibits individuals from giving electors any food, drink, or money on the days on which votes are being cast, within 150 feet from any building where polling is taking place, or within 25 feet from a voter line (Sec. 33).

Full Bill Text