Georgia's election integrity act
Also known as sb 202
Georgia’s Election Integrity Act (SB 202) is a new law designed to increase security and accessibility at the ballot box. Passed in 2021, SB 202 addresses many of the problems voters experienced in the 2020 elections - with an emphasis on preventing voter fraud and delivering accurate and secure elections for legal, eligible voters. Thanks to the addition of these reforms, Georgia’s voters can have confidence that their voice will be heard - and their vote will count.
Here are five ways that Georgia’s laws, coupled with the Election Integrity Act, make it easier to vote and hard to cheat:
1. Requires Voter ID for all Methods of Voting
SB 2020 requires every voter to have voter ID for both in-person and absentee voting. Non-citizens, felons, and unregistered voters are not permitted to vote in Georgia.
2. Bans Ballot harvesting & Outside fundinG
Third-party interest groups are banned from submitting absentee ballots on behalf of voters. Voters - or their designated caregivers - must personally submit their signed, sworn ballots. Moreover, election boards may not accept private funding for election operations.
3. Creates a voter fraud hotline: 877-725-9797
SB 202 creates a new voter fraud hotline and voter fraud investigation unit. Voters can now report suspicious activity at the polls in order for their complaints to be investigated.
4. Adds Controls for ballot drop boxes
Absentee ballot drop boxes will no longer be unsupervised or unlimited. One drop box will be allowed for every 100,000 registered voters in a county, and each drop box must now be housed in a well-lit area with constant monitoring by law enforcement, an election official, or a licensed security guard. Additionally, voters will only be able to access drop boxes during a county’s prescribed voting hours.
5. REQUIRES SECURITY PAPER BALLOTS
Voters will also benefit from new security paper ballots that can be used to identify the ballot as an official ballot but can not be traced back to a particular elector. This protects against fake ballots AND ensures that every voter’s vote is cast secretly and securely.