Atlanta journal constitution senate results11/29/2023 Election officials counted their votes in all races they were eligible to participate in, including for federal, state and countywide candidates. When voters showed up at the wrong county polling place, they were still permitted to cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots cast in the wrong precinct won’t count That’s a change from previous years, when early voting times were required “during normal business hours,” without defining those hours. to 5 p.m., and county election officials can choose longer hours, from 7 a.m. The law calls for runoffs to be held four weeks after elections instead of nine, leaving less time for election officials to print ballots and test equipment before early voting can begin.įor all elections, the default early voting hours are set at 9 a.m. Instead of three weeks of early voting, SB 202 requires one week of early voting, or it can begin “as soon as possible” after a general election. Sunday voting will remain optional, with county election offices given the authority to decide whether to open voting locations on up to two Sundays.Įarly voting will be reduced before runoffs. The additional Saturday means Georgia has 17 guaranteed days of early voting before each general or primary election. The voting law requires a second Saturday of early voting statewide before general and primary elections, which expands early voting hours for rural, Republican-leaning counties that didn’t previously offer two Saturdays.Ībout 60% of registered voters in Georgia already live in counties that had two Saturdays during three weeks of early voting last year. An audit of absentee ballots in Cobb County found zero fraudulent signatures among 15,000 reviewed by investigators.Īll Georgia voters will be able to vote on two Saturdays before general elections and primaries, but weekend voting hours before runoffs will be reduced. Supporters of the ID requirements say they’ll be more objective than signature comparisons conducted by county election workers. At that point, voters can write the last four digits of their Social Security number if they lack a driver’s license or state ID. The ID requirements are different when returning a completed ballot. They would need to submit other documentation when requesting an absentee ballot, such as a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, passport or military ID. The new ID requirements replace a system of verifying voters by comparing their signatures with those kept on file, often from when they registered to vote.Ĭritics of the new ID requirements say they will make it harder to vote for the 3% of registered Georgia voters who lack an ID number associated with their registration information. Voters will need to submit a driver’s license number, state ID number or other documentation when both requesting and returning absentee ballots. Free-for-all special elections have been replaced by partisan races.Runoffs will be held soon after general elections.Election funding from outside sources has been cut.A law enforcement hotline will gather voter complaints.County election boards can be replaced by state officials.Poll watchers gain more access to ballot counting.Digital images of paper ballots are now public records.Ballots will be printed on special paper.Election results will be reported more quickly.Long lines could result in more voting sites opening. ![]() Unlimited challenges to voter eligibility are allowed.Mass mailings of absentee ballot request forms are restricted.Provisional ballots cast in the wrong precinct won’t count.Voters face earlier absentee ballot deadlines.It’s illegal to hand out food and water to voters in line.Drop boxes are confined to early voting sites.
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