HB 480: Elections; permanent absentee voter list; provide

Under current Georgia law, most absentee voters must submit a new application before every primary, election, or runoff, with a narrow exception for certain elderly, disabled, or military and overseas voters. House Bill 480 changes this by amending Georgia's absentee ballot application law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381) to let any eligible elector check a box on the standard application form asking to receive absentee ballots automatically for all future regularly scheduled primaries, elections, and runoffs. Once a voter selects this option, they would not need to reapply each time unless they are moved to the inactive voter list for failing to respond to address confirmation notices, or they choose to opt back out. If a voter on this list confirms or updates an in-state address, their absentee ballot mailing address would be updated to match. The Secretary of State would have to track and publicly disclose, as part of standard voter data, whether each elector has chosen this permanent absentee option.

• Adds a checkbox to the state absentee ballot application letting a voter request ballots for all future regularly scheduled primaries, elections, and runoffs at once.
• Removes the requirement to submit a separate absentee application for each regularly scheduled election once a voter selects this permanent option.
• Ends a voter's permanent absentee status automatically if they are moved to the inactive voter list under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-235, or if they opt out on their own.
• Requires that if a permanent absentee voter updates their in-state address through a confirmation notice, their ballot mailing address is updated to match.
• Requires the Secretary of State to record whether each voter has chosen the permanent absentee option and make that information available for public inspection.
• Keeps the existing requirement for a separate application for any special election or special primary, even for voters on the permanent list.

All Georgia voters who use absentee ballots, since any eligible elector could opt into a permanent absentee list. It also affects county boards of registrars and absentee ballot clerks, who process applications and maintain voter rolls, and the Secretary of State's office, which designs the application form and tracks voter data.

Georgians who vote absentee regularly would no longer need to fill out a new application before every election, which could reduce paperwork and missed deadlines. Voters would still be dropped from the list if they become inactive, and county election offices would need to update their address-tracking and mailing procedures.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381(a)(1) to add subparagraph (H), creating a permanent absentee ballot option for future regularly scheduled primaries, elections, and runoffs.
• The absentee application form prepared by the Secretary of State must include a place for voters to select this permanent option.
• A voter's permanent status ends if they are moved to the inactive elector list under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-235 or if they opt out without a new application.
• If a permanent absentee voter verifies or updates an in-state address after a confirmation notice under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-234, their ballot mailing address is updated accordingly.
• Whether a voter has selected the permanent option must be included in elector data the Secretary of State maintains and makes available for public inspection under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-225.
• The existing rule requiring a separate application for any special election or special primary remains unchanged even for voters with permanent absentee status.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting 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
• Georgia elections