SB271: SB271 Elections and Primaries; permanent absentee voter list; provide

Under current Georgia law, voters generally must submit a new absentee ballot application for each primary, election, or runoff, with limited exceptions for presidential preference primaries. Senate Bill 271 changes this by amending the state's absentee ballot law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381) to create a standing, or permanent, absentee voter option. Under the bill, an elector could check a box on the standard absentee ballot application asking to automatically receive absentee ballots for all future regularly scheduled primaries, elections, and runoffs they are eligible to vote in. Once selected, the voter would not need to reapply each time. That status would end if the voter is moved to the inactive voter list for failing to respond to address confirmation notices, or if the voter opts out. The Secretary of State would have to track and publicly disclose which voters have selected this option as part of existing voter data records.

• Adds a new option letting an elector request absentee ballots for all future regularly scheduled primaries, elections, and runoffs on a single application, instead of applying separately each time.
• Requires the Secretary of State to include a place on the standard absentee ballot application form for electors to select this standing request option.
• Ends a voter's standing absentee request automatically if the voter is moved to the inactive voter list under Georgia's list maintenance law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-235), unless the voter confirms and updates their address.
• Allows a voter to cancel their standing absentee ballot request at any time without filing a new application.
• Requires the Secretary of State to record and make public, as part of existing voter data disclosures under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-225, whether each elector has chosen the standing absentee ballot option.

Georgia voters who use absentee ballots, especially those who vote absentee regularly, such as older voters, people with disabilities, and military or overseas voters covered by federal absentee voting law. County boards of registrars and absentee ballot clerks, and the Secretary of State's office, would also see changed workloads and recordkeeping duties.

Voters who currently must reapply for an absentee ballot before every primary, election, and runoff could instead sign up once and keep receiving ballots automatically, reducing paperwork. Election officials would need to track this new standing-request status and remove voters from it under specific conditions, changing how absentee ballot lists are maintained.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381(a)(1) to add new subparagraph (H), creating the option for a standing absentee ballot request covering all future regularly scheduled primaries, elections, and runoffs.
• The standing request ends if the elector is moved to the inactive elector list under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-235, unless the voter verifies or updates an in-state address after an address confirmation notice.
• The standing request also ends if the elector affirmatively opts out of receiving absentee ballots without filing a new application.
• The Secretary of State's absentee ballot application form must include a place for electors to select this option.
• Whether an elector has chosen the standing absentee ballot option must be included in voter data the Secretary of State maintains and makes available for public inspection under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-225.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-26Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• David Lucas (D, SD-026)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)

• absentee voting
• election rules
• voter registration
• permanent absentee list