HB480: HB480 Elections; permanent absentee voter list; provide

Currently, Georgia voters who want to vote by mail generally must submit a new absentee ballot application for each primary, election, or runoff, with some limited exceptions such as military and overseas voters. House Bill 480 changes the application form and process in O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381 so that any absentee elector can check a box asking to automatically receive absentee ballots for all future regularly scheduled primaries, elections, and runoffs they are eligible to vote in. Once an elector selects this option, the county will keep sending them absentee ballots without a new application, unless the elector is moved to the state's inactive voter list, fails to confirm or update their address after a confirmation notice, or specifically opts out of the arrangement. Whether a voter has chosen this permanent absentee status becomes part of the voter data the Secretary of State keeps and makes available for public inspection under existing law.

• Adds an option to the statewide absentee ballot application letting an elector request ballots for all future regularly scheduled primaries, elections, and runoffs instead of applying each time.
• Ends the need for repeat absentee applications for electors who choose this option, except in specific situations listed in the bill.
• Removes a voter from the permanent absentee arrangement if they are moved to the inactive voter list under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-235 or if they opt out.
• Requires that if a voter on this list confirms or updates their in-state address after a confirmation notice, their ballot mailing address is updated too.
• Adds the voter's permanent absentee ballot status to the elector data the Secretary of State collects and makes available for public inspection under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-225.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these changes.

Georgia voters who cast absentee ballots by mail, county boards of registrars and absentee ballot clerks who process applications, and the Secretary of State's office, which designs the application form and maintains statewide voter data available to the public.

Voters who choose the new option would no longer need to fill out and submit a fresh absentee ballot application before every primary, election, or runoff, which could make repeat absentee voting easier, while election officials would need to track and update this status and mailing addresses over time.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381(a)(1) to add subparagraph (H)(i), letting an elector request absentee ballots for all future regularly scheduled primaries, elections, and runoffs on one application.
• The standard absentee ballot application prepared by the Secretary of State must include a place for the elector to select this ongoing-ballot option.
• The permanent absentee status ends if the elector is placed on the inactive voter list under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-235, unless they confirm and update their in-state address, or if the elector opts out.
• Subparagraph (H)(ii) requires the Secretary of State to include each elector's permanent absentee ballot selection in voter data available for public inspection under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-225.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting state laws.

1. 2025-02-20House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-19House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-18House Hopper (House)

• Anissa Jones (D, HD-143)Primary sponsor
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Al Williams (D, HD-168)
• Dewey McClain (D, HD-109)
• Karen Bennett (D, HD-094)

• absentee voting
• election rules
• voter registration
• mail-in ballots