---
title: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-51. Opening of election records to members of public.
collection: code
id: 21-2-51
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-51 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-51
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-51.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-51/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=99
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 / SUPERVISORY BOARDS AND OFFICERS / SECRETARY OF STATE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 21-2-51. Opening of election records to members of public.

Except when otherwise provided by law, the primary and election records of the Secretary of State, including registration statements, nomination petitions, affidavits, certificates, tally papers, returns, accounts, contracts, reports, and other documents in his or her custody shall be open to public inspection and may be inspected and copied by any elector of the state during usual business hours at any time when they are not necessarily being used by the Secretary of State or his or her employees having duties to perform in reference thereto; provided, however, that such public inspection thereof shall only be in the presence of the Secretary of State or his or her employee and shall be subject to proper regulation for the safekeeping of such documents and subject to the further provisions of this chapter.

## History

Code 1933, § 34-302, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.

## Cross References

Penalty for willful refusal by Secretary of State to permit public inspection of election records, § 21-2-586.

Opening of public records for inspection by public generally, § 50-18-70 et seq.