19 LC 28 9010 House Bill 117 By: Representatives Bruce of the 61st, McClain of the 100th, Kennard of the 102nd, Kausche of the 50th, Holland of the 54th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1 To amend Part 1 of Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia 2 Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding preparation for and conduct of primaries 3 and elections, so as to provide that the election superintendent of a county may permit any 4 elector of the county to vote in any precinct of the county which such elector chooses in a 5 primary, election, or runoff under certain conditions; to provide for certain notices; to 6 provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. 7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: 8 SECTION 1. 9 Part 1 of Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 10 relating to general provisions regarding preparation for and conduct of primaries and 11 elections, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: 12 "21-2-420. 13 (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the election 14 superintendent of a county may permit any elector of the county to vote in any precinct of 15 the county which such elector chooses in a primary, election, or runoff, provided that the 16 conditions of this Code section are met. 17 (b) Prior to choosing to implement subsection (a) of this Code section, the election 18 superintendent shall ensure that: 19 (1) Sufficient safeguards are in place to protect against an elector voting more than once 20 in the same primary, election, or runoff; 21 (2) A sufficient number of ballots of each ballot style used in the county are available at 22 each precinct polling place to accommodate electors who may choose to vote at such 23 polling place; 24 (3) If DRE voting equipment is to be used at such polling places, a sufficient number of 25 DRE voting units are available at each polling place to accommodate the potential 26 number of electors who may vote at such polling place; and H. B. 117 - 1 - 19 LC 28 9010 27 (4) Sufficient poll workers are available at each polling place to accommodate the 28 potential number of electors who may vote at such polling place. 29 (c) The election superintendent shall make the determination of whether to allow the 30 electors of the county to vote in any precinct of the county at least 30 days prior to a 31 primary or election and shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of such decision at 32 least 30 days before the primary or election. The election superintendent shall notify the 33 electors of such decision by posting prominent notices in the election superintendent's 34 office and on each polling place in the county. In addition, the election superintendent 35 shall advertise the decision in the legal organ of the county once a week for two weeks 36 immediately preceding the primary or election. If the election superintendent decides to 37 allow the electors of the county to vote in any precinct of the county in a primary or 38 election, such decision shall also apply to any runoff of such primary or election. 39 (d) The State Election Board shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to 40 implement the provisions of this Code section." 41 SECTION 2. 42 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. H. B. 117 - 2 -