Senate Bill 533
By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Hickman of the 4th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Tillery of the
19th, Robertson of the 29th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to general provisions regarding elections and primaries, so as to provide for certain
nonresident electors to vote in municipal elections of such municipality; to provide for a
definition; to provide for the eligibility and manner of voting in municipal elections by
nonresident electors; to provide for procedures for registration and voting by such
nonresident electors; to provide for certain rules and regulations; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions regarding elections and primaries, is amended by adding a new Code
section to read as follows:
<ins>"21-2-20.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'nonresident elector' means a person who:
(1) Is a legal resident of the county in which a municipality is located;
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<ins>(2) Owns a fee simple interest in real property located in whole or in part in such
municipality, but does not reside in such municipality;
(3) Registers to vote in accordance with this Code section with such municipality; and
(4) Is a citizen of the United States.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon the passage by the General
Assembly of a local law applicable to a municipality authorizing such voting, such
municipality shall allow nonresident electors to vote in municipal elections of such
municipality in accordance with the provisions of this Code section.
(c) Real property owned by an artificial entity such as a company, firm, partnership,
corporation, limited liability corporation, or other business entity shall not be used to allow
any person to vote in a municipal election.
(d) Not more than two nonresident electors may register to vote in municipal elections
under this Code section per parcel of real property in such municipality. In the event more
than two persons who meet the conditions of eligibility to vote in a municipal election
under this Code section own real property in such municipality, the owners of such real
property shall designate not more than two persons from among their number as the
persons eligible to be nonresident electors in such municipality under the provisions of this
Code section for such parcel of real property. Such designation, when made, shall be
irrevocable so long as the person or persons designated continue to own all or a portion of
such parcel of real property and remain eligible to vote under this Code section. When
registering to vote as a nonresident elector, each such person shall designate the parcel of
real property on which such person is basing such person's eligibility to vote and such
designation shall not be changed so long as such person owns all or a portion of such
property. A person registering to vote under this Code section in a municipality as a
nonresident elector shall provide his or her legal residence address in the county in which
the municipality is located as well as the address or description of the real property within
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<ins>such municipality owned by the person and on which such person bases his or her
eligibility to vote under this Code section as a nonresident elector.
(e) The municipality shall designate on the electors list of the municipality each person
registering to vote in elections of such municipality under the provisions of this Code
section as a 'NONRESIDENT ELECTOR.'
(f) When a nonresident elector designates the parcel of real property from which such
elector is registering, the municipal registration officials shall use the location of such
property in the municipality for the assignment of the elector to a municipal election
precinct and municipal election district, if any.
(g) A nonresident elector shall be eligible to vote in municipal elections in the municipality
only so long as the nonresident elector continues to meet the conditions of eligibility under
this Code section.
(h) Ballots of nonresident electors shall be processed and tabulated in accordance with
normal procedures for municipal elections as near as practicable.
(i) The State Election Board may provide by rule and regulation for additional procedures
with regard to nonresident electors voting in municipal elections under this Code section."
</ins> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.