| Your rights as a
voter:
You have the right to vote—
it’s the law. The letters and numbers after each of your
rights listed below tell lawyers and poll-workers where to
find the actual Georgia statute that protects your right to
vote.
Georgia Voters’ Bill of Rights
1. On Election Day, each polling place opens at 7:00 a.m. and
closes at 7:00 p.m. If you are in line at the polling place
when the polls close at 7:00 p.m., YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE
in the election. Ga. Code Ann. § 21-2-403, 413(g) (2002).
2. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE
IDENTIFICATION with you on Election Day. If you do not have
any form of identification, you must sign a form under oath
swearing or affirming that you are the person identified on
your voter certificate. Id. § 21-2-418
3. If you are a first time voter who registered by mail and
you do not have identification and you did not include a copy
of your identification with your application, YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT TO VOTE BY PROVISIONAL BALLOT. Id. § 21-2-417(b)
4. If you cannot read English, or you are blind or disabled,
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE from anyone you
choose except your employer, your employer’s agent or an
officer or representative of your union. Id. §
21-2-409(b)(1). This provision only applies if a federal
candidate is on the ballot.
5. Between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Election
Day, IF YOU ARE 75 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER OR YOU ARE DISABLED
AND REQUIRE ASSISTANCE IN VOTING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE
without waiting in line. Id. § 21-2-409.1
6. If you move to a different county or municipality after the
fifth Monday prior to Election Day, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE
IN YOUR OLD PRECINCT. Id. § 21-2-218(e)
7. If you make a mistake or “spoil” your ballot and have
not cast the ballot, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE A
REPLACEMENT BALLOT after returning the spoiled ballot to a
poll officer. Id. § 21-2-433(b)
8. NO PERSON MAY ELECTIONEER, TRY TO INFLUENCE YOUR VOTE, ASK
YOU TO SIGN A PETITION OR SOLICIT YOU IN ANY WAY when you are
standing in line within 25 feet of a polling place. Id. §
21-2-414
9. If you have been convicted of a crime, but have completed
your sentence, including any period of probation or parole,
and have registered to vote since that time, YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT TO VOTE. Id. § 21-2-216(b)
10. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to bring your child under the age of 18
into the voting booth as long as they are not disruptive or
interfere with the voting process, or operate the voting
machine. Id. § 21-2-413(f)
11. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE DURING THE WORK DAY, unless you
begin work after 9:00 a.m. or end work at 5:00 p.m. Id. § 21-2-404
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE THIS BILL OF RIGHTS INTO THE VOTING
BOOTH WITH YOU.
Courtesy: Georgia
for Democracy website
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