Rule 183-1-12-.18 - Provisional Ballots(1) This rule shall govern the casting of provisional ballots by voters at primaries and elections in accordance with O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-418 and 21-2-419.(2) In each polling place, there shall be established a location or station in the public area of the polling place for the purpose of issuing and receiving provisional ballots. Each polling place shall have an information sheet developed by the Secretary of State available for voters who have questions about the provisional ballot process. The information sheet should describe relevant law regarding provisional ballots for voters who do not show up on the electors list for that polling place. (3) The election superintendent shall provide each polling place with an adequate supply of provisional ballots in each ballot style (district combination) for the precinct and an inner ballot envelope and an outer ballot envelope. The election superintendent shall also be prepared to resupply polling places with provisional ballots in needed ballot styles in a timely manner while voting is occurring so that polling places do not run out of provisional ballots. The ballot envelopes shall be so designed that the ballot will fit within the inner ballot envelope and the inner ballot envelope will fit within the outer ballot envelope. The inner ballot envelope shall have printed on it the words "Official Provisional Ballot" and nothing else. The outer envelope shall have places for inserting the person's name, precinct, date and name of election, ballot style (district combination), and whether such ballot is a regular provisional ballot, a provisional ballot cast by a voter who registered to vote for the first time in this state by mail and has not provided the identification required by O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-220 and 21-2-417, or a ballot cast during poll hours extended by a court order, or a combination thereof. Primaries and elections conducted by counties shall use optical scan ballots for provisional voting. The poll manager shall cause all voted provisional ballots to be deposited into the provisional ballot box and not be inserted into the polling place ballot scanner and kept separate and apart from non-provisional ballots cast at the polling place. Municipalities shall use the same type of ballots as the municipality uses for mail-in absentee voting. The election superintendent shall also provide a booth for voting provisional ballots in the enclosed space which will provide privacy for a person while voting a provisional ballot and a secure container in which the voted provisional ballots shall be placed.(4) Voters whose names do not appear on electors list.(a) When a person arrives at a polling place, completes a voter certificate, and presents it to the poll workers but the person's name does not appear on the official electors list for the precinct, the poll officers shall immediately direct the person to the provisional ballot station. The polling place shall have an electronic poll book that includes a master list of registered voters in the state, and the poll workers shall check the list to determine if the person is assigned to a different polling place within the county or registered in a different county. If the person's name appears on the master list for a different precinct within the same county, the poll workers shall inform the person of his or her correct polling place. If the person states a good-faith belief that he or she timely registered to vote in the precinct in which he or she is present, he or she shall be offered a provisional ballot. The poll officials shall also inform such person that any votes cast by a provisional ballot in the wrong precinct will only be counted if it is cast after 5:00 P.M. and before the regular time for the closing of the polls on the day of the primary, election, or runoff and if the person executes a sworn statement, witnessed by the poll official, stating that he or she is unable to vote at his or her correct polling place prior to the closing of the polls and giving the reason therefor. For the purposes of this rule, any otherwise eligible vote cast by an elector who is in line by the regular time of the closing of the polls shall be deemed as having been cast before the regular time of the closing of the polls. If the person is registered in a different county, the poll officer shall inform the person that he or she appears to be registered in a different county. If the person is still eligible to vote in the county in which they appear to be registered, the person may return to that county to vote. If the person states a good-faith belief that he or she timely registered to vote in the county in which he or she is present, he or she shall be offered a provisional ballot.(b) If the person's name is not found on the official list of electors for the precinct or the master list, the poll officers shall immediately contact the registrars and the person shall provide such information as the registrars may request to determine if the person is eligible to vote in the election. The registrars shall promptly review the information provided by the person and shall attempt to determine if the person timely and properly registered to vote in the county in which he or she is present.(c) If the registrars can immediately determine that the person timely and validly registered to vote in the primary or election and should be assigned to the precinct at which the person is present, the registrars shall authorize the poll officers to add the person's name to the official electors list for the precinct and shall permit the person to vote in the same manner as other voters in the precinct vote. When there are multiple ballot styles (district combinations) in use in the precinct, the registrars shall also advise the poll officers which ballot style (district combination) should be issued to the person. The person's name shall then be added to the official electors list for the precinct with a notation of the name of the registrar who authorized such addition. Upon presentation of a properly completed voter certificate and the identification required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417, the person shall be permitted to vote in the same manner as other voters in the precinct.(d) If the registrars can immediately determine that the person timely and validly registered to vote in the primary or election but should be assigned to a different precinct within the same county where the person is present, the registrars shall direct the poll officers to inform the person of the appropriate other precinct and the registrars shall notify the officers of such other precinct to add the person's name to the official electors list for such other precinct. The poll officials shall also inform such person that any votes cast by a provisional ballot in the wrong precinct will only be counted if it is cast after 5:00 P.M. and before the regular time for the closing of the polls on the day of the primary, election, or runoff and if the person executes a sworn statement, witnessed by the poll official, stating that he or she is unable to vote at his or her correct polling place prior to the closing of the polls and giving the reason therefor. For the purposes of this rule, any otherwise eligible vote cast by an elector who is in line by the regular time of the closing of the polls shall be deemed as having been cast before the regular time of the closing of the polls. Upon the completion of a voter certificate and the submission of the identification required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417, the person shall be permitted to vote in their assigned precinct in the same manner as other persons in such other precinct. i. In such cases, all votes cast by such person for candidates for whom such person is properly entitled to vote shall be counted and all votes cast for candidates for whom such person is not properly entitled to vote shall be void and shall not be counted in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-419(c). When there are multiple ballot styles (district combinations) in use in such other precinct, the registrars shall also advise the poll officers at such other precinct which ballot style (district combination) should be issued to the person. The person's name shall then be added to the official electors list for the other precinct by the poll officers of the other precinct with a notation of the name of the registrar who authorized such addition.(e) If the registrars cannot immediately determine that the person timely and validly registered to vote in the primary or election; but, from the information presented by the person, the person, if properly registered, would be assigned to the precinct at which the person is present, the registrars shall inform the poll officers and the person shall be offered a provisional ballot at such precinct. When there are multiple ballot styles (district combinations) in use in the precinct, the registrars shall also advise the poll officers which ballot style (district combination) should be issued to the person.(f) If the registrars cannot immediately determine that the person timely and validly registered to vote in the primary or election; but, from the information presented by the person, the person, if registered, would be assigned to a different precinct from the precinct in the county at which the person is present, the registrars shall direct the poll officers to inform the person of the appropriate precinct. The poll officials shall also inform such person that any votes cast by a provisional ballot in the wrong precinct will only be counted if it is cast after 5:00 P.M. and before the regular time for the closing of the polls on the day of the primary, election, or runoff and if the person executes a sworn statement, witnessed by the poll official, stating that he or she is unable to vote at his or her correct polling place prior to the closing of the polls and giving the reason therefor. For the purposes of this rule, any otherwise eligible vote cast by an elector who is in line by the regular time of the closing of the polls shall be deemed as having been cast before the regular time of the closing of the polls. i. The registrars shall notify the officers of such other precinct to permit the person to vote a provisional ballot when such person arrives at such precinct, completes an official voter registration form and a provisional ballot voter certificate, and submits the appropriate identification required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417. When there are multiple ballot styles (district combinations) in use in such other precinct, the registrars shall also advise the poll officers which ballot style (district combination) should be issued to the person.ii. In such case, all votes cast by such person for candidates for whom such person is properly entitled to vote shall be counted and all votes cast for candidates for whom such person is not properly entitled to vote shall be void and shall not be counted in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-419(c).(g) If the person appears at a precinct in a county or municipality in which the person does not reside, the registrars shall instruct the poll officers to direct the person to contact the registrars in the county in which the person resides to determine in which precinct such person should vote.(h) If the poll officers cannot get in touch with the registrars after making a reasonable effort to do so, the poll officers shall be authorized to permit the person to receive a provisional ballot at the precinct without additional authorization from the registrars, but if from the information presented by the person, the person, if registered, would be assigned to a different precinct from the precinct in the county at which the person is present, the registrars shall direct the poll officers to inform the person of the appropriate precinct. The poll officials shall also inform such person that any votes cast by a provisional ballot in the wrong precinct will only be counted if it is cast after 5:00 P.M. and before the regular time for the closing of the polls on the day of the primary, election, or runoff and if the person executes a sworn statement, witnessed by the poll official, stating that he or she is unable to vote at his or her correct polling place prior to the closing of the polls and giving the reason therefor. For the purposes of this rule, any otherwise eligible vote cast by an elector who is in line by the regular time of the closing of the polls shall be deemed as having been cast before the regular time of the closing of the polls. In such case, all votes cast by such person for candidates for whom such person is properly entitled to vote shall be counted and all votes cast for candidates for whom such person is not properly entitled to vote shall be void and shall not be counted in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-419(c).(i) Upon accepting the opportunity to receive a provisional ballot, the person shall complete a provisional ballot voter certificate and an official voter registration form and submit such completed certificate and form to the poll officers along with the appropriate identification required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417. The poll officers shall place the name of the person on the numbered list of provisional ballot voters and issue the person a provisional ballot of the style authorized by the registrars along with an Inner ballot envelope and an outer ballot envelope. Before issuing the outer ballot envelope to the person, the poll officers shall enter the person's name, the name of the precinct, the date and name of the election, and the ballot style (district combination) on the outer envelope. The person shall then retire to the provisional ballot voting booth and mark the ballot with his or her intended selections. Upon completing the ballot, the person shall seal the ballot in the inner ballot envelope and place the inner ballot envelope containing the ballot into the outer ballot envelope and shall seal the outer ballot envelope. The person shall then return the sealed envelope to the poll officers.(j) Upon receiving the sealed ballot envelope from a person casting a provisional ballot, the poll officers shall verify that the information requested on the outer ballot envelope is complete, shall mark the appropriate box or boxes to designate the type of provisional ballot enclosed therein, and shall direct the person to place the ballot envelope into the secure container for provisional ballots which shall be located within the enclosed space in the polling place where it can be monitored by the poll officers and observed by the public. The provisional ballot voter certificate and voter registration form shall be attached together and shall be placed in a separate, distinctively marked envelope or reusable document container which shall be placed in a secure location in the polling place.(5) Voter who registered for first time by mail but did not provide required identification. (a) When a person arrives at a polling place, completes a voter certificate, and presents it to the poll workers but does not have the identification required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417 and the person's name appears on the official electors list for the precinct with a designation that the person registered to vote for the first time in this state by mail but has not provided the required identification to the registrars as required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-220, the poll officers shall immediately direct the person to the provisional ballot station. At the provisional ballot station, the person shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot at such precinct. When there are multiple ballot styles (district combinations) in use in the precinct, the poll officers shall issue the appropriate ballot style (district combination) to the person as shown on the electors list. The poll officers shall place the name of the person on the numbered list of provisional ballot voters and issue the person a provisional ballot of the style authorized by the registrars along with an inner ballot envelope and an outer ballot envelope. Before issuing the outer ballot envelope to the person, the poll officers shall enter the person's name, the name of the precinct, the date and name of the election, and the ballot style (district combination) on the outer envelope. The person shall then retire to the provisional ballot voting booth and mark the ballot with his or her intended selections. Upon completing the ballot, the person shall seal the ballot in the inner ballot envelope and place the inner ballot envelope containing the ballot into the outer ballot envelope and shall seal the outer ballot envelope. The person shall then return the sealed envelope to the poll officers.(b) Upon receiving the sealed ballot envelope from a person completing a provisional ballot, the poll officers shall verify that the information requested on the outer ballot envelope is complete, shall mark the appropriate box or boxes to designate the type of provisional ballot enclosed therein, and shall direct the person to place the ballot envelope into the secure container for provisional ballots which shall be located within the enclosed space in the polling place where it can be monitored by the poll officers and observed by the public.(c) The provisional ballot shall not be counted unless the voter provides the identification required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-220 and 21-2-417 to the registrars before the end of the period set by law for the verification of provisional ballots. Such identification may be provided to the registrars in person, by email, by facsimile transmission or, in the case of disabled voters, by delivery by a third party.(6) Voters voting during extended polling hours in an election in which federal candidates are on the ballot. (a) In the event that the polling hours for a polling place are extended by a court order beyond the normal closing time for a primary, election, or runoff in which federal candidates are on the ballot, all voters who vote after the normal closing time for the polling place shall vote by provisional ballot.(b) Voters whose names appear on the electors list and who have the appropriate identification required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417 shall complete a provisional voter certificate and shall be issued a provisional ballot along with an inner ballot envelope and an outer ballot envelope. Such voters shall not be required to complete a voter registration form. It also shall not be necessary to obtain approval from the registrars to issue provisional ballots to such voters. The poll officers shall place the name of the person on the numbered list of provisional ballot voters. Before issuing the outer ballot envelope to the person, the poll officers shall enter the person's name, the name of the precinct, the date and name of the election, and the ballot style (district combination) on the outer envelope. The person shall then retire to a provisional ballot voting booth and mark the ballot with his or her intended selections. Upon completing the ballot, the person shall seal the ballot in the inner ballot envelope and place the inner ballot envelope containing the ballot into the outer ballot envelope and shall seal the outer ballot envelope. The person shall then return the sealed envelope to the poll officers. Upon receiving the sealed ballot envelope from a person completing a provisional ballot, the poll officers shall verify that the information requested on the outer ballot envelope is complete, shall mark the appropriate box to designate that the ballot is an extended poll hours provisional ballot, and shall direct the person to place the ballot envelope into the secure container for provisional ballots which shall be located within the enclosed space in the polling place where it can be monitored by the poll officers and observed by the public.(c) If the voter's name is not on the electors list, the poll workers shall follow the provisions of this rule for regular provisional balloting under this rule and, if the voter is authorized by the registrars to vote a provisional ballot under the terms of this rule, shall also mark the appropriate box on the outer ballot envelope to indicate that the ballot was issued during extended poll hours.(d) If the voter's name is on the electors list but registered to vote for the first time in this state by mail and has not provided the identification required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-220, the poll officers shall permit the voter to vote in accordance with the provisions of this rule for first time voters who register for the first time in this state by mail without providing the required identification, and shall also mark the appropriate box on the outer ballot envelope to indicate that the ballot was issued during extended poll hours.(e) The poll officers shall provide each first time voter who registered for the first time in this state by mail without providing the required identification who casts a provisional ballot information on how the voter may provide the registrars with the appropriate identification in order that the voter's ballot may be counted.(7) Each voter casting a provisional ballot in a primary, election, or runoff in which federal candidates appear on the ballot shall be given written information explaining how such voter can ascertain if such ballot is counted and, if such ballot is not counted, the reason why such ballot was not counted.(8) The provisional ballot voter certificates and voter registration cards may be picked up during the day by a registrar or deputy registrar for the purpose of beginning the process of determining the eligibility of the persons to cast provisional ballots. Before transferring the voter certificates and registration cards to the registrars during the day, the poll officers shall note the number of certificates and cards being transferred to the registrars. If such voter certificates and registration cards are not picked up by the registrars by the time that the polls close and the last voter has voted, the envelope in which the provisional ballot voter certificates and voter registration cards have been deposited shall be securely sealed and shall be returned to the election superintendent with the other materials from the polling place.(9) After the close of the polls and the last voter has voted, the poll officers shall account for all voted provisional ballots, cancelled and spoiled provisional ballots, and unused provisional ballots. The ballot stubs and unused and spoiled ballots shall then be securely sealed in the container provided for them by the election superintendent. The poll officer, along with two other witnesses sworn as poll officers, shall then proceed to open the secure container in which the provisional ballots were deposited and count the number of voted provisional ballots contained therein. The poll officer and witnesses shall then compare the total number of persons voting provisional ballots as shown on the numbered list of provisional ballot voters with the number of ballots issued and the number of ballots voted. If these numbers do not equal one another, the poll officers shall determine the reason for the inconsistency and shall correct the problem before going further. The poll officer and witnesses shall seal the voted provisional ballots in a container for transfer to the election superintendent. The poll officers shall complete and sign a provisional ballot recap sheet and post one copy of the recap sheet on the door of the polling place with the election results from the precinct. The remaining copies of the provisional ballot recap sheet along with the numbered list of provisional ballot voters shall be returned to the election superintendent with the other election materials from the precinct.(10) Upon receiving the election materials from the precincts, the election superintendent shall cause the envelope containing the provisional ballot voter certificates and voter registration cards to be promptly removed from the other materials and, if applicable, transferred to the registrars for processing. If applicable, the voter certificates and registration cards shall be transferred to the registrars no later than 9:00 a.m. on the day following the day of the primary, election, or runoff. The election superintendent shall also remove the container containing the voted provisional ballots and shall place such container in a secure location within the election superintendent's office.(11) Upon receiving the provisional ballot voter certificates and voter registration cards from the election superintendent, the registrars shall promptly proceed to determine the eligibility of each person that voted a provisional ballot. (a) If the registrars determine that the person did timely register and is eligible and entitled to vote in such primary, election, or runoff, the registrars shall mark on the numbered list of provisional ballot voters that the ballot is accepted and shall notify the election superintendent of the proper ballot style (district combination) for the voter.(b) If the registrars determine that the person did not timely register to vote for the primary or election or is not eligible and entitled to vote in such primary or election or if the registrars cannot determine by the close of business on the third business day following the day of the primary, election, or runoff if the voter timely registered and was eligible and entitled to vote in such primary or election, the registrars shall mark on the numbered list of provisional ballot voters that the ballot is rejected.(c) Not later than the close of business on the third business day following the day of the primary, election, or runoff, the registrars shall return to the election superintendent the numbered list of provisional ballot voters reflecting the accepted and rejected provisional ballots.(d) The names of those persons whose names are accepted shall be added to the official electors list. The voter registration cards of those persons whose ballots are rejected on the numbered list of provisional ballot voters shall be processed by the registrars and, if found to be eligible and qualified, shall be added to the electors list for future elections.(e) The registrars shall maintain the provisional ballot voter certificates for the same period of time and under the same conditions as the regular voter certificates. Voter registration cards completed by provisional ballot electors shall be maintained for the same period of time and under the same conditions as other voter registration cards.(12) Upon receiving the numbered list of provisional ballot electors from the registrars, the election superintendent shall prepare to count the accepted provisional ballots. The election superintendent shall first compare the precinct designation and election district information with the style of ballot (district combination) cast by the provisional ballot voter.(a) If the ballot style (district combination) voted by the voter was correct, then the election superintendent shall open the outer envelope and place the inner envelope containing the ballot into a ballot box.(b) If the ballot style (district combination) voted by the voter was not correct, then the election superintendent shall open the outer envelope and note the correct ballot style (district combination) on the inner envelope. Each such inner envelope shall then be placed in a separate container until all of the outer envelopes have been opened. The outer envelopes shall then be stored in a location away from the inner envelopes in a manner such that the inner envelope and ballot of a voter cannot be identified as being the ballot of a particular voter. The superintendent shall then open each such inner envelope and remove the ballot and shall place a unique identifying number on the ballot along with the designation of the precinct at the top of the ballot. The election superintendent shall then prepare or cause to be prepared a duplicate ballot. The duplicate ballot shall be clearly labeled with the word "Duplicate" and shall bear the name of the precinct and the same unique identifying number as the original ballot at the top of the ballot. The election superintendent shall transfer or cause to be transferred to the duplicate ballot, in the presence of at least two other consolidation assistants and in public, only the votes cast by the provisional ballot voter in the races and on the questions to which such voter was eligible and entitled to vote. The votes entered on the duplicate ballot shall be verified by at least one consolidation assistant. The completed duplicate ballot shall be placed in the ballot box with the other provisional ballots to be counted. The original ballot shall be placed into an appropriate container and retained.(c) After opening all of the outer envelopes and making all necessary duplicate ballots, the election superintendent shall then open the inner envelopes of the ballots in the ballot box and proceed to count the votes in the same manner as absentee ballots are counted. Upon completing the count, the election superintendent shall add the provisional ballot votes to the other votes cast at the polls and by absentee ballot and shall consolidate and certify the results of the primary, election, or runoff. The provisional ballots and any duplicates shall be retained for the same time period and in the same manner as absentee ballots.(d) The rejected provisional ballots shall be marked on the outer envelope as "Not Counted" and shall not be opened. The ballots shall be maintained for the same time period and in the same manner as absentee ballots which were returned too late to be counted.(e) The election superintendent shall notify the registrars of the names of those persons who cast a provisional ballot in the wrong precinct or on an incorrect ballot style (district combination).(13) Upon identifying the rejected provisional ballot electors, the registrars shall proceed at the earliest possible time to notify each such person by first-class mail at the address shown on the provisional ballot voter certificate that his or her ballot was not counted because of the inability of the registrars to verify that the person timely registered to vote or such other proper reason. The registrars shall also attempt to notify the person by telephone or email if the provisional ballot voter certificate contains an email address or telephone number. If the person's voter registration card was approved, the registrars shall also notify the person that his or her name will be added to the elector's list and the person will be eligible to vote in future primaries and elections and that a voter notification or precinct card will be mailed to the person to provide the voter with the correct precinct and election district information.(a) Upon receiving notification from the election superintendent of the names of persons who cast provisional ballots in the incorrect precinct or on the incorrect ballot style (district combination), the registrars shall notify such persons of their correct precinct and/or election district information. The sending of a voter notification or precinct card by first-class mail to the address shown on the voter registration card completed by such person when voting by provisional ballot shall be sufficient notice for such voters.(b) If the person's voter registration is rejected, the registrars shall notify the person of such rejection in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-226(d).(c) In addition, the registrars shall establish a free access system, such as a toll-free telephone number or an Internet website, by which voters who cast provisional ballots in a primary, election, or runoff in which federal candidates are on the ballot may ascertain whether their ballots were counted or, if the ballots were not counted, the reasons why such ballots were not counted. The registrars shall establish and maintain reasonable procedures necessary to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personal information collected, stored, or otherwise used by such system. Access to information about an individual provisional ballot shall be restricted to the voter who cast such ballot.O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-31, 21-2-226, 21-2-417, 21-2-418, 21-2-419.
Original Rule entitled "Provisional Ballots" adopted. F. Jan. 23, 2020; eff. Feb. 12, 2020.Note: Correction of non-substantive typographical errors in subparagraphs (4)(d), (5)(a) (sentences one and five) and (6)(d), period corrected to comma in "... by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417. the person."; "... by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-220. the poll officers."; "... to the person. the poll officers."; "... by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-220. the poll officers.", respectively, as requested by the Agency for original rule filed on Jan. 23, 2020. Effective February 12, 2020.Amended: F. Mar. 2, 2020; eff. Mar. 22, 2020.Note: Correction of non-substantive typographical errors in subparagraphs (4)(d), (5)(a) (sentences one and five) and (6)(d), period corrected to comma in "... by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417. the person."; "... by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-220. the poll officers."; "... to the person. the poll officers."; "... by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-220. the poll officers.", respectively, as requested by the Agency for amendment filed on Mar. 2, 2020. Effective March 22, 2020.Amended: F. May 1, 2020; eff. May 21, 2020.Amended: F. Sep. 22, 2021; eff. Oct. 12, 2021.Amended: F. Nov. 1, 2021; eff. Nov. 21, 2021.