Bill > SB353

This bill amends Georgia's Open Meetings Act to allow county or joint boards of election and boards of election and registration to conduct meetings via teleconference, joining other types of public bodies already permitted to do so. Specifically, the bill adds these election-related boards to the list of entities that can hold teleconference meetings, with the requirement that proper public notice is provided and, when fewer than a quorum of board members are physically present, the public must be given simultaneous access to the teleconference. The bill ensures that members participating by teleconference are considered to be fully participating as if they were physically present, and in the case of public hearings, members of the public must also be able to participate fully through the teleconference technology. This change provides more flexibility for election boards to conduct their business remotely while maintaining transparency and public access, which can be particularly useful during situations that make in-person meetings challenging.