---
title: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-578. Unfolding, opening, or prying into ballots.
collection: code
id: 21-2-578
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-578 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-578
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-578.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-578/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=624
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.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-577.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-579.md
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 / MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 21-2-578. Unfolding, opening, or prying into ballots.

Any person who, before any ballot is deposited in the ballot box as provided by this chapter, willfully unfolds, opens, or pries into any such ballot with the intent to discover the manner in which the same has been marked shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

## History

Code 1933, § 34-1923, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1; Ga. L. 2010, p. 914, § 31/HB 540.