Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB321

Introduced
3/20/23  
Refer
3/21/23  
Introduced
3/20/23  

Caption

Elections and Primaries; challenging the qualifications of a person applying to register to vote or any person whose name appears on the list of electors; provide

Impact

The legislation seeks to formalize the process for challenging voter qualifications, specifying that challenges could be grounded in various criteria, including age, citizenship, felony convictions, mental competency, or residence verification. This move is anticipated to have implications for voter registration by increasing the avenues through which an individual's eligibility can be contested, thereby potentially affecting voter turnout and accessibility for certain demographics.

Summary

Senate Bill 321 proposes amendments to Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which relates to elections and primaries. The primary focus of this bill is to allow any elector of a county or municipality to challenge the qualifications of individuals seeking to register to vote or those already listed as electors. Such challenges must be documented in writing and can be made without limit to the number of challenges an individual may file, establishing a framework for contesting voter qualifications more extensively than before.

Contention

However, this bill raises notable concerns regarding the possible disenfranchisement of voters. Critics argue that expanding the framework for challenges to voter qualifications could lead to abuse by allowing frivolous or politically motivated challenges to occur with greater frequency. Proponents of the bill may view it as a necessary measure to uphold electoral integrity, while opponents fear it could create barriers for legitimate voters, especially among marginalized communities who may face disproportionately higher rates of challenges.

Further_details

The procedures outlined in the bill, such as filing deadlines for challenges and requirements for documentation, would introduce additional administrative responsibilities for both challengers and election officials. The need to provide evidence or demonstration of due diligence in establishing the residency status of a challenged elector could complicate the voting process and introduce new dynamics in the challenge resolution framework.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

GA SB357

Elections and Primaries; challenge the qualifications of a person applying to register to vote or any person whose name appears on the list of electors; provide

GA SB400

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in qualifications of electors, further providing for qualifications of electors at primaries; in party organization, further providing for only enrolled electors to vote at primaries or hold party offices; in nomination of candidates, further providing for candidates to be nominated and party officers to be elected at primaries and providing for procedure for unenrolled electors to cast primary ballots; and, in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges.

GA SB400

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in qualifications of electors, further providing for qualifications of electors at primaries; in party organization, further providing for only enrolled electors to vote at primaries or hold party offices; in nomination of candidates, further providing for candidates to be nominated and party officers to be elected at primaries and providing for procedure for unenrolled electors to cast primary ballots; and, in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges.

GA SB929

In preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges.

GA SB221

Primaries and Elections; the language that must be used on absentee ballot applications distributed by persons or entities; revise

GA SB271

Elections and Primaries; permanent absentee voter list; provide

GA SB53

Primaries and Elections; permanent absentee voter list; provide

GA HB976

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in qualifications of electors, further providing for qualifications of electors at primaries; in party organization, further providing for only enrolled electors to vote at primaries or hold party offices; in nomination of candidates, further providing for candidates to be nominated and party officers to be elected at primaries and providing for procedure for unenrolled electors to cast primary ballots; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots; in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots; in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for computation of returns by county board, certification and issuance of certificates of election; and, in penalties, further providing for election officers refusing to permit elector to vote in proper party at primaries and repealing provisions relating to elector voting ballot of wrong party at primary.

GA SB274

Elections and Primaries; same-day registration and voting; provide

GA HB979

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in qualifications of electors, further providing for qualifications of electors at primaries; in party organization, further providing for only enrolled electors to vote at primaries or hold party offices; in nomination of candidates, further providing for candidates to be nominated and party officers to be elected at primaries and providing for procedure for unenrolled electors to cast primary ballots; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots; in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots; in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for computation of returns by county board, certification and issuance of certificates of election; and, in penalties, further providing for election officers refusing to permit elector to vote in proper party at primaries and repealing provisions relating to elector voting ballot of wrong party at primary.

Similar Bills

CA SB1133

Peremptory challenges.

CA AB3070

Juries: peremptory challenges.

CA SB212

Prospective jurors for criminal trials: peremptory challenges: elimination.

MI SB1068

Elections: challengers; requirements and procedures for election challengers; modify, clarify challenges to voter registration, and clarify the procedure regarding certain absent voter ballots. Amends secs. 509r, 509aa, 509bb, 509cc, 512, 523b, 727, 728, 730, 731, 733, 765a & 769 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.509r et seq.); adds secs. 726c, 726d & 726e & repeals secs. 729 & 732 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.729 & 168.732).

NJ A3880

Modifies challenger credentialing process for early voting period.

CA SB645

Juries: peremptory challenges.

CA SB758

Juries: peremptory challenges.

CA AB3039

Juries: peremptory challenges.