HB1109: HB1109 Elections; certain driver's licenses and identification cards shall not be proper identification for presentation to a poll worker; provide

Under current Georgia law, voters must show a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or a few other approved forms of identification to a poll worker before voting. This bill changes that list by specifically excluding driver's licenses and special identification cards issued to noncitizens, including those issued under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-21.1, from counting as proper voter identification. The bill also changes how the Department of Driver Services issues temporary licenses, permits, and special ID cards to noncitizens (people with pending asylum claims, refugee status, temporary protected status, or similar federal authorization to be in the country). Starting August 1, 2027, those cards must display the phrase 'BEARER NOT A U.S. CITIZEN - NOT VOTER ID' and have their card numbers prefixed with 'NC.' The department must also post a webpage explaining how these cards differ from standard ones. Cards issued before that date remain valid until December 31, 2026, if they don't meet the new format.

• Amends Georgia's voter ID law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417) to state that a driver's license or special identification card issued to a noncitizen cannot be used as proper identification at the polls.
• Requires temporary licenses, permits, or special ID cards issued to noncitizens on or after August 1, 2027 to prominently display the phrase 'BEARER NOT A U.S. CITIZEN - NOT VOTER ID.'
• Requires those same cards to have their ID numbers appended with the prefix 'NC' to flag them as held by a noncitizen.
• Directs the Department of Driver Services to publish a webpage explaining how noncitizen cards differ in appearance from standard Georgia licenses and ID cards.
• Sets a transition rule making noncitizen cards that don't yet meet the new format valid only until December 31, 2026.

Noncitizens living in Georgia who hold or apply for temporary driver's licenses, permits, or special identification cards, including people with pending asylum claims, refugee status, or temporary protected status; poll workers who check ID at polling places; and the Department of Driver Services, which must redesign cards and update its website.

Poll workers would have a clearer rule for rejecting noncitizen-issued ID cards as voter identification, and noncitizens' license and ID cards would carry visible markings identifying their immigration status, which could affect how those cards are treated in situations beyond voting, such as routine ID checks.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417(a) so that proper voter identification cannot include a driver's license or special identification card issued to a noncitizen, including cards issued under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-21.1.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-21.1 to add a new subsection (d) requiring noncitizen temporary licenses, permits, or ID cards issued on or after August 1, 2027 to bear the phrase 'BEARER NOT A U.S. CITIZEN - NOT VOTER ID.'
• Section 2 also requires those cards' ID numbers to carry an 'NC' prefix marking them as noncitizen-held.
• Section 2 adds subsection (e), requiring the Department of Driver Services to post a public webpage explaining how these noncitizen cards differ from other licenses and ID cards.
• Section 2 sets a transition period: noncitizen cards issued before the new format takes effect remain valid only until December 31, 2026, if they don't conform to the new requirements.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-03House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-02House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-29House Hopper (House)

• Charlice Byrd (R, HD-020)Primary sponsor
• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-024)

• voter ID
• election rules
• immigration
• driver's licenses
• Department of Driver Services