These new laws describe why voters may notice a watermark on ballots and how they can challenge a person's voter registration.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia State Board of Elections is considering new rules that could set new procedures ahead of the November election. These rules could truly change the way elections are run, just weeks before people cast their votes for president.
Meanwhile, Georgia's newest election laws went into effect in July. These laws could already change what voters see the next time they cast their ballot.
HB1207: Fewer voting machines, poll workers must be US citizens
Thanks to HB1207, polling places are now allowed to have fewer or more voting machines. The law allows polling stations to adjust to expected voter turnout. However, the election officials must justify the change. This means voters can expect fewer voting machines in lower turnout elections, such as special elections and runoffs.
This new law also requires poll workers to be U.S. citizens and allows election observers to have a closer look at the vote counting process. It also prohibits any threats or violence that could impede an election official or election observer in their work, thereby providing greater protection for those who choose to contribute to this democratic process.
RELATED: As 2024 presidential race looms, Georgia governor signs new election changes
SB189: Overview of Voter Roll Challenges
Anyone in Georgia can challenge a person's voter registration – SB189 simply describes new circumstances that can kick someone off the voter rolls.
If a Georgian citizen believes a voter:
- Vote where they no longer live
- Uses a non-residential address, e.g. B. an office
- The voter is actually deceased
- Does not live in the area as tax exemptions indicate her primary residence is elsewhere
They can report this registration to election officials, effectively challenging whether a voter can actually cast a vote at the registered address.
RELATED: In Georgia, conservatives seek to have voters removed from voter rolls without official challenge
HB974: Ballot security measures
Thanks to HB974, ballots will be watermarked. This is a security feature that voting systems use to verify ballots.
This law is essentially part of a new voter control program that Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has asked the Georgia General Assembly to fund. Implementation of that law is likely to be slower because the state's top election official said the audit system needs to be tested and counties will go through several upgrades.
The goal is to make Georgia “the first state in the country to conduct post-election auditing using optical detection. This also allows verification to be carried out on every ballot and every contest from the president to the surveyor,” reads a message from the office of Secretary of State.
Watch the videos in the YouTube playlist below to stay up to date on what you need to know before voting:
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