Bill > HB283

This bill, the Georgia Voting Rights Act, proposes several key changes: 1. It changes the date of nonpartisan elections, moving the qualifying period for these elections to the 35th week prior to the election instead of the 11th week. 2. It prohibits the state legislature from enacting laws that change the duties or powers of elected officials between their election and taking office. 3. It establishes the Georgia Voting Rights Commission, a five-member independent commission tasked with reviewing voting changes, conducting public hearings on redistricting plans, and making recommendations to improve the state's voting systems and increase voter turnout. 4. It creates an independent Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office to develop district plans for Congressional, House, and Senate districts, with requirements around political neutrality, avoiding racial discrimination, and maintaining communities of interest. 5. It allows voters to register and vote on the same day, either at their polling place on election day or at the registrar's office during the early voting period. 6. It expands early voting to include Sundays and requires a minimum of two Saturday early voting days. 7. It provides that the state must fully fund voting equipment updates and the operations of the new independent commission and redistricting office.