---
title: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-454. Duties of poll officers after the close of the polls.
collection: code
id: 21-2-454
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-454 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-454
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-454.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-454/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=514
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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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
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 VOTING MACHINES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 21-2-454. Duties of poll officers after the close of the polls.

(a) As soon as the polls are closed and the last elector has voted, the poll officers shall immediately lock and seal the operating lever or mechanism of the machine so that the voting and counting mechanism will be prevented from operation, and they shall then sign a certificate stating:

(1) That the machine has been locked against voting and sealed;

(2) The number, as shown on the public counter;

(3) The number on the seal which they have placed upon the machine;

(4) The number registered on the protective counter or device; and

(5) The number or other designation of the voting machine,

which certificate shall be returned by the chief manager to the superintendent with the other certificates, as provided in this part.

(b) The poll officers shall then compare the number, as shown by the public counter of the machine, with the number of names appearing on the numbered list of voters, the electors list, and voter’s certificates, which shall then be placed in separate packages, containers, or envelopes and sealed.

## History

Code 1933, § 34-1325, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Code 1933, § 34-1331, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1969, p. 308, § 27; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.

## Cross References

Interfering with poll officers, § 21-2-569.