2020 Georgia Code
Title 21 - Elections
Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally
Article 6 - Registration of Voters
- § 21-2-210. Secretary of State Deemed the Chief State Election Official
- § 21-2-211. List of Registered Electors; Provision of Equipment to Access and Utilize List
- § 21-2-212. County Registrars; Appointment; Certification; Term of Service; Vacancies; Compensation and Expenses of Chief Registrar, Registrars, and Other Officers and Employees; Budget Estimates
- § 21-2-213. (Effective Until January 1, 2021. See note.) County Deputy Registrars; Clerical Help; Appointment of County Officer or Employee as Chief Deputy Registrar
- § 21-2-213. (Effective January 1, 2021. See note.) County Deputy Registrars; Clerical Help; Appointment of County Officer or Employee as Chief Deputy Registrar
- § 21-2-213.1. Monthly Contingent Expense Allowance for the Operation of the Office of the Board of Registrars
- § 21-2-214. Qualifications of Registrars and Deputy Registrars; Prohibited Political Activities; Oath of Office; Privilege From Arrest; Duties Conducted in Public
- § 21-2-215. Main Office of Board of Registrars; Location; Business Hours; Additional Registration Places; Educators to Serve as Deputy Registrars; Training; Registration Cards and Papers
- § 21-2-216. Qualifications of Electors Generally; Reregistration of Electors Purged From List; Eligibility of Nonresidents Who Vote in Presidential Elections; Retention of Qualification for Standing as Elector; Evidence of Citizenship; Check of Convicted Felons and Deceased Persons Databases
- § 21-2-217. Rules for Determining Residence
- § 21-2-218. Cancellation of Registration in Former State or County; Address Changes and Corrections
- § 21-2-219. Registration Cards; Form; Registration by Members of Armed Forces or Merchant Marine and Permanent Overseas Citizen; Secretary of State to Provide Information Regarding Registration and Absentee Ballot Procedures; Reports Regarding Absentee Ballots
- § 21-2-220. Application for Registration; Identification Requirement; Rejection for Failure to Provide Required Information or for Submission of False Information; Aid to Disabled or Illiterate
- § 21-2-220.1. Required Documentation for Voter Registration
- § 21-2-221. Driver's License or Identification Card Application as Application for Voter Registration; Forms and Procedure; Electronic Transmission of Applications and Signatures
- § 21-2-221.1. Voter Registration Incorporated Into Resident Hunting, Fishing, or Trapping License; Design of Forms; Record Keeping; Opting Out by Businesses Selling Alcohol for On-Premises Consumption
- § 21-2-221.2. Voter Registration Application for Electronic Voter Registration
- § 21-2-222. Designated Voter Registration Agencies and Offices; Definitions; Duties of Agencies and Offices
- § 21-2-223. Mail Voter Registration Application Forms
- § 21-2-224. Registration Deadlines; Restrictions on Voting in Primaries; Official List of Electors; Voting Procedure When Portion of County Changed From One County to Another
- § 21-2-225. Confidentiality of Original Registration Applications; Limitations on Registration Data Available for Public Inspection; Data Made Available by Secretary of State; Membership in Nongovernmental Entity for Purpose of Sharing and Exchanging Information to Improve Accuracy and Efficiency of Voter Registration Systems
- § 21-2-225.1. Confidentiality of Address of Registered Electors; Term of Request; Procedure
- § 21-2-226. Duties of County Board in Determining Eligibility of Voters; Maps of Municipal Boundaries; Notice of Ineligibility; Issuance of Registration Cards; Reimbursement for Postage Cost
- § 21-2-227. Duty of Registrars to Furnish List of Electors for Elections Held in Governmental Subdivisions
- § 21-2-228. Examination of Electors' Qualifications; Subpoenas; Notice and Hearing; Right of Appeal
- § 21-2-229. Challenge of Applicant for Registration by Other Electors; Notice and Hearing; Right of Appeal
- § 21-2-230. Challenge of Persons on List of Electors by Other Electors; Procedure; Hearing; Right of Appeal
- § 21-2-231. Lists of Persons Convicted of Felonies, Noncitizens, Mentally Incompetent, and Deceased Persons Provided to Secretary of State and Council of Superior Court Clerks; Removal of Names From List of Electors; Obtain Information About Deceased; Timing; List of Inactive Voters Provided to Council of Superior Court Clerks
- § 21-2-232. Removal of Elector's Name From List of Electors
- § 21-2-233. Comparison of Change of Address Information Supplied by United States Postal Service With Electors List; Removal From List of Electors; Notice to Electors
- § 21-2-234. Electors Who Have Failed to Vote and With Whom There Has Been No Contact in Three Years; Confirmation Notice Requirements and Procedure; Time for Completion of List Maintenance Activities
- § 21-2-235. Inactive List of Electors
- § 21-2-236. Periods of Retention of Registration Cards, Applications, and Records of List Maintenance Activities; Rules and Regulations Regarding Safekeeping and Maintenance of Electronic Records
- Exceptions to right to register and vote, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. II, Sec. I, Para. III.
Penalties for offenses relating to voter registration, §§ 21-2-561,21-2-562.
Editor's notes.- Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 3, effective January 1, 1995, repealed the Code sections formerly codified at this article and enacted a new article. The former article consisted of Code Sections21-2-210 through21-2-246 and was based on Orig. Code 1863, § 1227; Code 1868, § 1308; Code 1873, § 1281; Code 1882, § 1281; Ga. L. 1894, p. 115, §§ 2, 6-8, 10-12, 14; Ga. L. 1895, p. 115, § 3; Civil Code 1895, §§ 34, 36, 41, 42, 48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60, 63, 64; Ga. L. 1897, p. 95, § 1; Ga. L. 1899, p. 21, § 1; Ga. L. 1908, p. 58, §§ 1, 4-10; Civil Code 1910, §§ 36, 38, 41, 42, 49, 50, 52, 54-56, 58, 59, 61, 63-66, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74; Ga. L. 1911, p. 167, § 2; Ga. L. 1913, p. 115, §§ 1, 3; Code 1933, §§ 34-103, 34-106 - 34-108, 34-115, 34-203, 34-204, 34-301, 34-303, 34-401, 34-402, 34-404, 34-405, 34-407, 34-408, 34-602 - 34-605, 34-801, 34-803, 34-804, 34-1001, 34-1101; Ga. L. 1943, p. 353, § 3; Ga. L. 1949, p. 1204, §§ 6-11, 13-20, 23, 24, 26, 28-36, 39, 41, 42, 45, 48, 53, 54; Ga. L. 1950, p. 126, § 8; Ga. L. 1955, p. 344, § 1; Ga. L. 1957, p. 385, § 1; Ga. L. 1958, p. 269, §§ 2-8, 10-17, 20-31, 33, 35, 36, 39, 41, 43, 44; Ga. L. 1959, p. 182, § 1; Ga. L. 1960, p. 257, § 1; Ga. L. 1960, p. 955, § 1; Ga. L. 1961, p. 56, § 1; Ga. L. 1961, p. 162, § 1; Ga. L. 1961, p. 164, § 1; Ga. L. 1963, p. 73, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Code 1933, §§ 34-601 - 34-607, 34-609 - 34-617, 34-619 - 34-636; Ga. L. 1968, p. 847, § 1; Ga. L. 1968, p. 871, §§ 1-4, 4a; Ga. L. 1969, p. 285, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1969, p. 329, §§ 5a, 7; Ga. L. 1970, p. 383, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1971, p. 270, § 1; Ga. L. 1971, Ex. Sess., p. 61, §§ 1-7; Ga. L. 1974, p. 95, §§ 1-6; Ga. L. 1975, p. 803, §§ 1-4; Ga. L. 1976, p. 457, §§ 1-4; Ga. L. 1976, p. 468, § 1; Ga. L. 1976, p. 473, § 1; Code 1933, § 34-626.1; Ga. L. 1977, p. 1053, § 2; Ga. L. 1978, p. 1004, §§ 6-13, 24, 36; Code 1933, § 34-608; Ga. L. 1978, p. 1023, § 1; Ga. L. 1978, p. 1035, § 1; Ga. L. 1979, p. 955, § 2; Ga. L. 1979, p. 962, § 1; Ga. L. 1979, p. 1080, § 1; Ga. L. 1980, p. 1256, §§ 1, 6; Ga. L. 1981, p. 1238, §§ 4-6; Ga. L. 1981, p. 1718, §§ 2, 3; Ga. L. 1981, p. 1798, §§ 1-3; Code 1981, §§ 21-2-210 - 21-246; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 21; Ga. L. 1982, p. 442, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1982, p. 688, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1982, p. 850, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1292, §§ 3-7; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1512, § 5; Ga. L. 1982, p. 2107, §§ 21-23; Ga. L. 1983, p. 140, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1983, p. 786, § 2; Ga. L. 1983, p. 930, §§ 5, 6; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1, §§ 2-5; Ga. L. 1984, p. 133, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 635, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 677, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 694, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 922, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1372, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1430, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1490, §§ 1, 2; Code 1981, § 21-2-232.1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 206, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 496, §§ 7-12; Code 1981, § 21-2-232.2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 632, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1236, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1318, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1986, p. 32, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 382, §§ 2, 3; Ga. L. 1986, p. 772, § 2; Ga. L. 1986, p. 932, §§ 1-4; Ga. L. 1986, p. 1028, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 351, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 417, §§ 2, 3; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1360, § 12; Ga. L. 1988, p. 639, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 647, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 752, §§ 1-5; Ga. L. 1988, p. 926, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 928, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 10, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 659, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 661, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 662, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 849, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1082, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 143, §§ 1, 1A, 2; Ga. L. 1990, p. 243, §§ 5, 6; Ga. L. 1990, p. 1238, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 1282, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 133, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 56, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1060, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1231, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1815, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2048, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2051, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2345, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 118, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 617, §§ 6, 7; Ga. L. 1994, p. 237, § 2; Ga. L. 1994, p. 1406, §§ 10-18.
Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 28, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval [April 15, 1994] for the purpose of authorizing the Secretary of State to design and distribute such forms and materials and to develop, procure, and install such computer hardware and software as are required under the provisions of this Act and to exercise such administrative authority as such officer deems necessary and proper for the implementation of this Act. For all other purposes, this Act shall become effective January 1, 1995."
JUDICIAL DECISIONS
Editor's notes.
- In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, decisions under former Code 1933, Chapter 34-6 and § 34-115 are included in the annotations for this article.
Purpose of registration statutes.
- Registration statutes have for their purpose the regulation of the exercise of the right of suffrage, not to qualify or restrict the right to vote. Franklin v. Harper, 205 Ga. 779, 55 S.E.2d 221 (1949), appeal dismissed, 339 U.S. 946, 70 S. Ct. 804, 94 L. Ed. 1361 (1950) (decided under former Code 1933, § 34-115).
Registration laws are the means or machinery under which proofs are furnished showing the existence of the voter's qualifications. Franklin v. Harper, 205 Ga. 779, 55 S.E.2d 221 (1949), appeal dismissed, 339 U.S. 946, 70 S. Ct. 804, 94 L. Ed. 1361 (1950) (decided under former Code 1933, § 34-115).
Registration laws must be impartial, uniform, and reasonable, giving to all a fair and reasonable opportunity to exercise such right. Franklin v. Harper, 205 Ga. 779, 55 S.E.2d 221 (1949), appeal dismissed, 339 U.S. 946, 70 S. Ct. 804, 94 L. Ed. 1361 (1950) (decided under former Code 1933, § 34-115).
Limitation on legislature's power to determine voter qualifications.
- The legislature, even in the absence of express constitutional power, can provide for the registration of voters; but where the state Constitution provides who shall be entitled to vote, the legislature cannot take from or add to the qualifications unless the power is granted expressly or by necessary implication. Franklin v. Harper, 205 Ga. 779, 55 S.E.2d 221 (1949), appeal dismissed, 339 U.S. 946, 70 S. Ct. 804, 94 L. Ed. 1361 (1950) (decided under former Code 1933, § 34-115).
The legislature has wide latitude in determining how the qualifications required by the Constitution may be determined, provided it does not deny the right of franchise by making the exercise of such right so difficult or inconvenient as to amount to a denial of the right to vote. Franklin v. Harper, 205 Ga. 779, 55 S.E.2d 221 (1949), appeal dismissed, 339 U.S. 946, 70 S. Ct. 804, 94 L. Ed. 1361 (1950) (decided under former Code 1933, § 34-115).
Cited in NAACP v. Georgia, 494 F. Supp. 668 (N.D. Ga. 1980).
OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERALFor general discussion of powers and duties of county boards of registrars and chief registrars, see 1982 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U82-12.
RESEARCH REFERENCES
ALR.
- Constitutionality of statutes in relation to registration before voting at election or primary, 91 A.L.R. 349.
