Bill > SB202

Introduced Session

AN ACT To comprehensively revise elections and voting; to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to revise a definition; to provide for the establishment of a voter intimidation and illegal election activities hotline; to limit the ability of the State Election Board and the Secretary of State to enter into certain consent agreements, settlements, and consent orders; to provide that the Secretary of State shall be a nonvoting ex officio member of the State Election Board; to provide for the appointment, confirmation, term, and removal of the chairperson of the State Election Board; to revise provisions relating to a quorum of such board; to require the Secretary of State to support and assist the State Election Board; to provide for the appointment of temporary and permanent replacement superintendents; to provide for procedures; to provide for performance reviews of local election officials requested by the State Election Board or local governing authorities; to provide for a definition; to provide for appointment and duties of performance review boards; to provide for reports of performance review boards; to provide for promulgation of rules and regulations; to provide additional requirements on the State Election Board's power to adopt emergency rules and regulations; to provide that no election superintendents or boards of registrars shall accept private funding; to provide that the State Election Board shall develop methods for distribution of donations; to provide that certain persons may serve as poll workers in other than the county SB 202/AP of their residence; to provide for the appointment of acting election superintendents in the event of a vacancy or incapacitation in the office of judge of the probate court of counties without a board of elections; to provide for resumption of the duties of election superintendent upon the filling of such vacancy; to provide for the compensation of such acting election superintendents; to provide for the reduction in size of certain precincts under certain circumstances; to provide for notice when polling places are relocated; to provide for certain reports; to provide limitations on the use of buses and other moveable facilities; to provide that the name and designation of the precinct appears on every ballot; to provide for allocation of voting equipment by counties and municipalities; to provide for the manner of handling the death of a candidate prior to a nonpartisan election; to provide that no candidate shall take or be sworn into any elected public office unless such candidate has received a majority of the votes cast for such office except as otherwise provided by law; to provide for participation in a multistate voter registration system; to revise procedures and standards for challenging electors; to provide for the printing of ballots on safety paper; to provide for the time and manner for applying for absentee ballots; to provide for certain limitations and sanctions on the distribution of absentee ballot applications; to provide for the manner of processing of absentee ballot applications; to provide for absentee ballot drop boxes and the requirements therefor; to provide for the time and manner of issuing absentee ballots; to provide for the manner of voting and returning absentee ballots; to revise the times for advance voting; to limit changes to advance voting locations in the period prior to an election; to provide notice requirements for changes of advance voting locations; to provide for the processing and tabulation of absentee ballots; to provide sanctions for improperly opening an absentee ballot; to provide for certain elector identification for absentee balloting; to provide for monitors and observers; to provide for poll watcher training; to provide for restrictions on the distribution of certain items within close proximity to the polls on election days; to provide for the voting and processing of provisional ballots; to provide for duplication panels for defective ballots that cannot be processed by tabulating machines; to SB 202/AP provide for ranked choice voting for military and overseas voters; to revise the time for runoffs; to revise eligibility to vote in runoffs; to provide for the deadline for election certification; to provide for a pilot program for the scanning and publishing of ballots; to provide for the inspection and copying of original ballots by certain persons following the completion of a recount; to provide for special primaries and special elections to fill vacancies in certain offices; to provide for public notice and observation of preparation of voting equipment; to provide for observation of elections and ballot processing and counting; to provide for the filling of vacancies in certain offices; to prohibit observing or attempting to observe how a voter marks or has marked his or her ballot or inducing a voter to do so; to prohibit the acceptance of a ballot for return without authorization; to prohibit the photographing or other recording of ballots and ballot markers; to amend Chapter 35 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to home rule powers, so as to provide for the delay of reapportionment of municipal corporation election districts when census numbers are delayed; to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding state government, so as to provide for the submission and suspension of emergency rules by the State Election Board; to provide that scanned ballot images are public records; to provide for legislative findings; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John Albers (R)*,  Jason Anavitarte (R)*,  Lee Anderson (R)*,  Brandon Beach (R)*,  Matt Brass (R)*,  Dean Burke (R)*,  Max Burns (R)*,  Michael Dugan (R)*,  Frank Ginn (R)*,  Marty Harbin (R)*,  Tyler Harper (R)*,  Billy Hickman (R)*,  Chuck Hufstetler (R)*,  John Kennedy (R)*,  Sheila McNeill (R)*,  Butch Miller (R)*,  Jeff Mullis (R)*,  Chuck Payne (R)*,  Randy Robertson (R)*,  Carden Summers (R)*,  Bruce Thompson (R)*,  Blake Tillery (R)*,  Larry Walker (R)*,  Barry Fleming (R), 

Senate Floor Amendment - SB 202/HRCSFA (on 03/26/2021)