SB 370: Elections and Primaries; closed primaries; provide

Georgia currently runs open primaries, meaning any registered voter can choose which party's primary ballot to vote on election day without declaring a party affiliation in advance. This bill would end that system for primaries held under this chapter of Georgia election law (O.C.G.A. Title 21, Chapter 2). The bill requires the Secretary of State to build an online portal where voters can register as affiliated with a political party. Only voters who register a party affiliation at least 30 days before early voting begins for a given primary could vote in that party's primary. Election officials would check a voter's registered party affiliation when processing absentee ballot applications for primaries, and precinct voter lists used in partisan primaries would show each voter's party affiliation. The State Election Board could issue rules to administer the new system. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a specific effective date beyond the standard process.

• Creates a closed primary system by requiring voters to register a party affiliation with the Secretary of State before voting in that party's primary.
• Directs the Secretary of State to build a web portal where voters designate their party affiliation, which is then sent to parties, county superintendents, and registrars.
• Sets a deadline requiring voters to register their party affiliation at least 30 days before early voting starts for a given primary.
• Requires absentee ballot clerks to verify a voter's registered party affiliation before approving an absentee ballot application for a primary election.
• Requires precinct voter lists used in partisan primaries to show each listed voter's political party affiliation.
• Lets the State Election Board write rules to administer the new party-registration and closed-primary system.

Georgia voters who want to vote in a party primary, the Secretary of State's office, county election registrars and absentee ballot clerks, political parties, and the State Election Board, all of whom would take on new registration, verification, or rulemaking duties under the closed primary system.

Voters who do not register a party affiliation in advance would be unable to vote in any party's primary, a change from Georgia's current system where any voter can pick a party's ballot on election day. This could affect independent-minded voters and complicate absentee and in-person primary voting procedures.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 21-2-151 to allow only electors registered with a party affiliation to vote in that party's primary, and requires the Secretary of State to create a web portal for that registration.
• Section 1 sets a deadline: voters must designate a party affiliation no later than 30 days before early voting begins for the relevant primary.
• Section 1 authorizes the State Election Board to adopt rules for administering the closed primary and registration system.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 21-2-381 so absentee ballot clerks must check an applicant's registered party affiliation when processing primary absentee ballot applications.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 21-2-401 to require precinct voter lists for partisan primaries to show each voter's party affiliation.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting state laws.

1. 2025-04-02Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
2. 2025-03-31Senate Hopper (Senado)

• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)Patrocinador principal
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Brandon Beach (R, SD-021)
• Colton Moore (R, SD-053)

• closed primaries
• election rules
• voter registration
• absentee voting