---
title: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-587. Frauds by poll officers.
collection: code
id: 21-2-587
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-587 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-587
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-587.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-587/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=629
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 / MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 21-2-587. Frauds by poll officers.

Any poll officer who willfully:

(1) Makes a false return of the votes cast at any primary or election;

(2) Deposits fraudulent ballots in the ballot box or certifies as correct a false return of ballots;

(3) Registers fraudulent votes upon any voting machine or certifies as correct a return of fraudulent votes cast upon any voting machine;

(4) Makes any false entries in the electors list;

(5) Destroys or alters any ballot, voter’s certificate, or electors list;

(6) Tampers with any voting machine, direct recording electronic (DRE) equipment, electronic ballot marker, or tabulating machine or device;

(7) Prepares or files any false voter’s certificate not prepared by or for an elector actually voting at such primary or election; or

(8) Fails to return to the officials prescribed by this chapter, following any primary or election, any keys of a voting machine; ballot box; general or duplicate return sheet; tally paper; oaths of poll officers; affidavits of electors and others; record of assisted voters; numbered list of voters; electors list; voter’s certificate; spoiled and canceled ballots; ballots deposited, written, or affixed in or upon a voting machine; DRE, electronic ballot marker, or tabulating machine memory cards; or any certificate or any other paper or record required to be returned under this chapter

shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years or to pay a fine not to exceed $100,000.00, or both.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 1238; Code 1868, § 1319; Code 1873, § 1292; Code 1882, § 1292; Civil Code 1895, § 74; Civil Code 1910, § 84; Code 1933, § 34-1501; Code 1933, § 34-1921, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 206, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1; Ga. L. 2003, p. 517, § 65; Ga. L. 2007, p. 536, § 11/SB 40; Ga. L. 2010, p. 914, § 33/HB 540; Ga. L. 2019, p. 7, § 49/HB 316.

## Cross References

Poll officers, § 21-2-90 et seq.

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2019 amendment of this Code section, see 36 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 81 (2019).

## 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.