Georgia

In Georgia, elections are overseen by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who administers election laws and provides statewide guidance. The Secretary of State provides guidance to local county election officials who manage the day-to-day election processes at the county level.
Georgia Election System

Frequently Asked Questions

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​.

Georgia News & Updates

Georgia Election News

Georgia

Georgia Recorder: Georgia elections officials don’t expect major voting delays due to storm damage

Stanley Dunlap of the Georgia Recorder reports that Georgia officials’ do not expect damage caused by Hurricane Helene to disrupt voting. Georgia state election officials announced Monday the fallout from devastation…
October 8, 2024
Georgia

Georgia Recorder: After months of rewriting rules, Georgia election board meets once more before November

Stanley Dunlap of The Georgia Recorder reports on the final meeting of the Georgia elections board before the November election. An investigation into allegations that several county election boards are…
October 7, 2024
Georgia

The Macon Newsroom: Bibb County elections supervisor plans to comply with new state rule on hand-counting ballots

Laura Corley of The Macon Newsroom reports that the Bibb County elections supervisor plans to comply with the state’s new requirement to count ballots by hand. Bibb County elections supervisor…
October 4, 2024
Georgia

CNN: Georgia judge signals a need to clarify ‘vague’ new election certification rule

Devan Cole of CNN reports on Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney’s signaling that Georgia’s new election certification rule needs clarification.
October 2, 2024
Georgia

AJC: Cybersecurity expert says Georgia’s election system is vulnerable to attacks

David Wickert of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports on a cyber security expert’s testimony that Georgia’s election system is vulnerable to attacks. A cybersecurity expert testified Monday that Georgia’s election…
October 1, 2024
Georgia

PBS: Inside Georgia’s effort to secure voting machines as experts raise concerns

Miles O’Brien of PBS reports on election security preparations by state officials in Georgia. Georgia is one of the battlegrounds where local and state officials are grappling with some big…
September 30, 2024
Georgia

The Telegraph: Georgia’s hand-counting ballot rule raises risk for delays. How will Macon handle it?

Jesse Fraga of The Telegraph reports on how Georgia’s Bibb County will adjust to the Georgia Election Board’s new vote counting and poll administration procedures. A local official says new…
September 25, 2024
Georgia

WSB: Secretary of State say State Election Board has overstepped is authority over new rules

Justin Gray of WSB reports on Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s statement that recent election administration changes by the Georgia Elections Board have overstepped their legal authority.
September 24, 2024
Georgia

AJC: Georgia’s election board is weighing last-minute changes, including hand count of ballots

Mark Neisse of The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports on the Georgia Election Board’s upcoming decisions on proposed rule changes to Georgia voting procedures. The State Election Board…
September 20, 2024
Georgia

WABE: Georgia leaders worry mail delays could cause many absentee ballots to arrive too late to count

Stanley Dunlap of The Georgia Recorder reports on bipartisan concerns that persistent mail delays could affect Georgia absentee ballots. In a rare bipartisan consensus about…
September 17, 2024