---
title: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-433. Admission of electors to enclosed space; detachment of ballots from stubs and distribution of ballots to electors; return of canceled ballots to superintendent.
collection: code
id: 21-2-433
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-433 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-433
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-433.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-433/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t21-(v18)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=868a5c43_0#page=493
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: ELECTIONS / ELECTIONS AND PRIMARIES GENERALLY / PREPARATION FOR AND CONDUCT OF PRIMARIES AND ELECTIONS / PRECINCTS USING PAPER BALLOTS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 21-2-433. Admission of electors to enclosed space; detachment of ballots from stubs and distribution of ballots to electors; return of canceled ballots to superintendent.

(a) No elector shall enter the enclosed space behind the guardrail provided for in subsection (a) of Code Section 21-2-267 until he or she is found entitled to vote.

(b) As soon as an elector has been admitted within the enclosed space, the poll officer having charge of the ballots in precincts in which ballots are used shall detach a ballot from the stub and give it to the elector, first folding it so that the words and figures printed on the face shall not be visible, and no ballots shall be deposited in the ballot box unless folded in the same manner. If an elector’s right to vote has been challenged for cause under Code Section 21-2-230, the elector shall be entitled to vote a challenged ballot. Not more than one ballot shall be detached from its stub in any book of ballots at any one time. Not more than one ballot shall be given to an elector; but, if an elector inadvertently spoils a ballot, such elector may obtain another upon returning the spoiled one. The ballots thus returned shall be immediately canceled and at the close of the polls shall be enclosed in an envelope, which shall be sealed and returned to the superintendent.

## History

Ga. L. 1922, p. 97, § 4; Code 1933, § 34-1905; Ga. L. 1943, p. 290, § 1; Code 1933, § 34-1313, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Code 1933, § 34-1318, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1969, p. 308, § 12; Ga. L. 1983, p. 140, § 1; Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 7; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1; Ga. L. 2012, p. 995, § 32/SB 92.

## Administrative Rules and Regulations

Spoiled ballot definition, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Georgia Election Code, Absentee Voting, § 183-1-14-.07.