Bill
Bill > HB397
GA HB397
GA HB397Elections; allow municipalities to opt in to providing advance voting on Saturdays for municipal elections
summary
Introduced
02/11/2025
02/11/2025
In Committee
03/28/2025
03/28/2025
Crossed Over
03/06/2025
03/06/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
AN ACT To amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide that the State Election Board shall be administratively attached to the State Accounting Office; to provide for definitions; to limit the effective date of rules or regulations adopted by the State Election Board prior to a general primary, general election, or runoff thereof; to revise duties of the State Election Board; to revise provisions related to the qualification of presidential elections for independent candidates for the President or Vice President of the United States and candidate in special elections that are preceded by a special primary; to authorize counties to make the list of electors open for inspection at no cost; to remove authorization for the Secretary of State to become a member of a nongovernmental entity whose purpose is to share and exchange information in order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of voter registration systems; to prohibit the Secretary of State and other state and local actors from participating in certain multistate voter list maintenance organizations; to authorize the Secretary of State to enter into voter list maintenance joint compacts with other states and authorize the sharing of certain information; to prohibit the acceptance of hand delivered absentee ballots at certain times; to allow municipalities to opt out of providing advance voting on certain Saturdays for certain municipal elections; to revise provisions related to drop boxes; to revise reporting requirements related to absentee ballots and advance voting; to revise provisions related to locations to which poll watchers may have access; to provide certain reporting requirements on election night; to revise provisions related to the timelines for calling special elections and the dates on which special elections can be held; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
AI Summary
This bill introduces several changes to Georgia's election laws, focusing on various administrative and procedural aspects of voting. It allows municipalities to opt out of Saturday advance voting in municipal elections (except when the election is held concurrently with county or state elections), modifies the State Election Board's administrative structure by attaching it to the State Accounting Office instead of the Secretary of State's office, and places new restrictions on multistate voter list maintenance organizations. The bill also changes rules around drop boxes, requiring enhanced security measures like video surveillance, and limits hand delivery of absentee ballots. Additionally, it mandates more detailed reporting of election night results, including vote totals by precinct and voting method, and adjusts timelines and procedures for special primaries and special elections. The bill implements new definitions for voter list maintenance and multistate voter list maintenance organizations, and prohibits certain types of information sharing between election officials and external organizations. The changes are implemented in stages, with most provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025, some sections becoming effective immediately, and a few specific sections not taking effect until July 1, 2026, or July 1, 2027.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (7)
David Clark (R)*,
Tim Fleming (R)*,
Joseph Gullett (R)*,
John LaHood (R)*,
Rob Leverett (R)*,
Mitchell Scoggins (R)*,
Rick Williams (R),
Last Action
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (on 04/02/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...