Georgia

Members of the Pillars of the Community have asked the following questions about Georgia’s election system. The state has provided the following information regarding voting and elections. In upcoming meetings, the Pillars and election officials will continue to examine and address these issues in depth.

Is voting by mail reliable?

Georgia employs multiple safeguards to ensure the reliability of voting by mail. Absentee ballot applications must include a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license or voter ID number, which is used to verify the voter’s identity. Once the absentee ballot is submitted, voters can track its status through Georgia’s My Voter Page, ensuring transparency throughout the process.

Absentee ballot return envelopes include an oath that voters must sign, along with providing their identification number, which election officials compare to voter registration records to confirm the voter’s identity and eligibility​. If a ballot is missing required information or contains discrepancies, it may be rejected​.

Can voters cast an absentee ballot without providing a valid form of identification?

Voters in Georgia are required to provide valid identification to cast an absentee ballot. When applying for an absentee ballot, voters must include a valid form of ID, such as a driver’s license number, state identification card number or another acceptable form of identification​. If a voter does not have a driver’s license or state ID, they must submit a copy of another approved form of ID along with their application. This ensures that only eligible voters are able to vote by absentee ballot​.

Voters can track the status of their absentee ballot through Georgia’s My Voter Page to ensure transparency throughout the process​. Without proper identification, the absentee ballot application or the ballot itself may be rejected​.

Are voting machines accurate?

Georgia employs a multi-layered process to ensure the integrity and accuracy of its voting machines. Before each election, all machines undergo rigorous testing to confirm that ballot marking devices and scanners accurately record votes, ensuring proper functionality​. During elections, random machines are selected for parallel monitoring to detect any real-time issues​. Additionally, voters can review their printed ballots for accuracy before submission, a practice shown to be widely adopted by voters​. Post-election, Georgia conducts risk-limiting audits to verify election results by comparing paper ballots to machine counts​. The state also collaborates with federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, to secure voting locations and equipment​. These procedures combine to ensure the reliability and transparency of Georgia’s voting system.

How is the voter list maintained and checked for accuracy?

Georgia maintains its voter lists through regular updates using data from sources like the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), national change-of-address records, and death certificates​. Voters who haven’t participated in recent elections receive notices, and if they remain inactive for two general election cycles without responding, they may be removed from the rolls​. This process ensures the accuracy and relevance of the voter lists​.

Can non-citizens vote in elections? 

Non-citizens are not allowed to vote in Georgia elections. Georgia law explicitly restricts voting to U.S. citizens, and this is enforced through the state’s voter registration process. Further, the Georgia Secretary of State performed the first-ever citizenship audit of Georgia’s voter rolls to ensure voter list integrity.

According to the Georgia Secretary of State, to register to vote, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be a legal resident of Georgia and the county where you intend to vote
• Be at least 17 ½ years old to register, and 18 years old to vote
• Not be serving a sentence for a felony involving moral turpitude
• Not have been found mentally incompetent by a judge

What security measures are in place to protect my vote?

Georgia’s election security measures include a secure paper-ballot system, allowing voters to verify their choices and providing an auditable paper trail​. Voting machines undergo thorough pre-election testing to ensure accuracy and prevent tampering​. After elections, risk-limiting audits are conducted, comparing paper ballots to machine results to verify the accuracy of outcomes​. Additionally, Georgia collaborates with federal agencies like DHS and CISA to safeguard against cyber threats​.

Can the outcome of an election be influenced or interfered with?

Georgia’s election system incorporates several security measures to ensure the integrity and accuracy of election outcomes:

• Photo ID for Absentee Ballots: When submitting absentee ballots, voters are required to provide a valid photo ID. This measure helps confirm voter eligibility and prevent fraud​.
• Chain of Custody Protocols: Enhanced procedures ensure the secure handling of ballots from collection to counting, adding an additional layer of protection against tampering​.
• Citizenship Verification: Rigorous processes are in place to verify that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in Georgia elections​.

In addition to these measures, Georgia conducts risk-limiting audits (RLAs) after each major election to verify the accuracy of results. These steps collectively ensure that Georgia’s elections are secure and transparent.

How can someone report voting fraud concerns?

To report voter fraud concerns in Georgia, individuals can call the voter fraud hotline at 877-725-9797, use the secure online reporting portal available through the Georgia Secretary of State’s website, or contact their local county election office to file a report. These methods ensure that any concerns related to election integrity are promptly addressed and investigated​.