---
title: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-485. Responsibilities of poll officers.
collection: code
id: 21-2-485
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-485 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-485
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-485.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-485/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=531
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 OPTICAL SCANNING VOTING EQUIPMENT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 21-2-485. Responsibilities of poll officers.

As soon as the polls are closed and the last elector has voted in precincts in which optical scanners are used, the poll officers shall:

(1) For central count optical scan ballots:

(A) Seal the ballot box and deliver the ballot box to the tabulating center, as designated by the superintendent; and

(B)(i) Examine the ballots and separate those ballots containing write-in votes.

(ii) Record in ink the designation of the polling place and a serial number on all write-in ballots, starting with the number one, and place the same number on the ballot voted by the same elector, so that write-in ballots may be identified with the corresponding ballots.

(iii) After the write-in ballots have been so marked, place the write-in ballots in an envelope marked “Write-in Ballots” and designate the polling place and the number of write-in ballots contained therein on such envelope, which shall be sealed and signed by the managers and placed in the ballot container with the other ballots.

(iv) Place any ballot that is so torn, bent, or mutilated that it may not be counted by the tabulating machine in an envelope marked “Defective Ballots” and place the envelope in the container with other ballots; and

(2) For precinct count optical scan ballots:

(A) Feed ballots from the auxiliary compartment of the ballot box, if any, through the tabulator; and

(B) After all ballots have been fed through the tabulator the poll officer shall cause the tabulator to print out a tape with the total votes cast in each election.

## History

Code 1981, § 21-2-485, enacted by Ga. L. 1998, p. 1231, § 41.