HB 633: Elections; add caregivers to list of persons who may make absentee ballot applications for certain electors

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381), only certain relatives, such as a parent, spouse, sibling, child, or in-law who is at least 18 years old, can fill out and submit an absentee ballot application for a voter who is temporarily living outside their county or who has a physical disability. House Bill 633 adds one more category of person to that list: a caregiver. The bill makes this change by revising a single subparagraph of the existing absentee ballot law. It does not change any other part of the absentee voting process, such as who can return a completed ballot or how eligibility is verified. The bill would repeal any conflicting laws, and like most Georgia bills, it does not specify a special effective date beyond the standard process for a signed Act.

• Adds caregivers to the list of people who may fill out and submit an absentee ballot application for an eligible voter under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381.
• Keeps this permission limited to two situations: an elector temporarily living outside the county or municipality, or a physically disabled elector living within it.
• Requires satisfactory proof of relationship before a caregiver, like the other listed relatives, can make the application.
• Requires the caregiver, like other qualifying people, to be at least 18 years old to submit the application.

This bill affects voters who are temporarily away from home or who have a physical disability and rely on someone else to apply for their absentee ballot, as well as the caregivers who assist them. County election officials who review absentee ballot applications are also affected.

For voters who depend on caregivers rather than family members for daily assistance, this change would let that caregiver help them apply for an absentee ballot, potentially making it easier for disabled or temporarily relocated voters to participate in elections without needing a relative available to help.

• Section 1 revises subparagraph (a)(1)(B) of O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381 to add 'caregiver' to the list of people who can apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of a qualifying elector.
• The added caregiver category applies only to electors temporarily residing outside their county or municipality, or physically disabled electors within it.
• The applicant, including a caregiver, must still be 18 or older and provide satisfactory proof of relationship to the elector.
• Section 2 repeals any laws that conflict with this change.

1. 2025-02-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-26House Hopper (House)

• Debra Bazemore (D, HD-69)Primary sponsor
• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-59)
• Shea Roberts (D, HD-52)
• Mary Margaret Oliver (D, HD-84)

• absentee voting
• election rules
• disability accommodations
• caregivers