SB 598: Elections and Primaries; nonemergency rules or regulations adopted by the State Election Board within 180 days of an election shall not be effective for such election; provide

Currently the State Election Board can adopt rules or regulations affecting elections, and local election superintendents can change election practices or procedures, with fewer limits on timing. This bill amends Georgia's elections chapter (O.C.G.A. Title 21, Chapter 2) to say that any nonemergency rule or regulation the State Election Board adopts within 180 days of a presidential preference primary, general primary, general election, or runoff cannot take effect until the day after that election is certified. For special elections, the rule would follow existing law but could never apply to that special election itself. The bill keeps the board's existing emergency rule power for cases of imminent peril to public health, safety, or welfare, with required notices to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, House Speaker, legislative committee chairs, the Secretary of State, and political parties. It also adds a new Code section, 21-2-79, applying the same 180 day delay to changes in practices or procedures made by local election superintendents.

• Delays the effective date of most new State Election Board rules or regulations until after certification if adopted within 180 days of a major election.
• Bars any board rule adopted within 180 days of a special election, primary, or runoff from applying to that special contest.
• Preserves the board's ability to adopt emergency rules only in cases of imminent peril to public health, safety, or welfare, with added notice requirements.
• Creates a new Code section (21-2-79) applying the same 180 day delay rule to local election superintendents who adopt or revise election or voter registration practices.
• Repeals any conflicting state laws.

The State Election Board, county and local election superintendents who run elections and voter registration, the Georgia Secretary of State's office, the Governor and legislative leaders who receive emergency rule notices, and ultimately voters and candidates affected by election procedures close to voting dates.

By locking in election rules and local procedures well before voting begins, the bill limits last-minute changes that could confuse voters or poll workers, while still letting officials act quickly in genuine emergencies through a separate notice-and-certification process.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 21-2-35 so nonemergency board rules adopted within 180 days of a presidential preference primary, general primary, general election, or runoff take effect only the day after certification.
• Section 1 specifies that rules adopted within 180 days of a special primary, special election, or runoff cannot apply to that special contest.
• Section 1 keeps the board's emergency rule authority limited to imminent peril situations and requires email notice to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, House Speaker, relevant committee chairs, the Secretary of State, legislative counsel, and registered political parties before adopting one.
• Section 1 requires a majority of the board to certify in writing that any emergency rule strictly complied with the law and with O.C.G.A. § 50-13-4(e).
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 21-2-79, applying the same 180 day delay to practice or procedure changes made by local election superintendents.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-25Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)

• election rules
• State Election Board
• local election administration
• voting procedures