How SB202 Changes Georgia Elections: Runoff Elections - ACLU of Georgia

How SB202 Changes...

Runoff Elections

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Before SB202

Runoff elections were held four weeks after an election for state races and nine weeks after an election for federal races.

After SB202 (Current Law)

Runoff elections (both state and federal) are held four weeks after an election.

§21-2-414 (a)(1); S.B. 202 §42

CONSEQUENCES

Makes runoff elections virtually impossible to administer.
Drastically shortens the window voters can request a VBM ballot for the runoff and the county to process the request and mail back the VBM ballot.
Eliminates the window for voter registration to reopen for federal elections.
Cuts the early voting period to 5 days, and as short as 3 days if coinciding with Thanksgiving.
Shortens the time for counties to finish up the previous election and properly prepare for the next.

Before SB202

No Ranked Choice Voting.

After SB202 (Current Law)

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) implemented for UOCAVA (1) voters ONLY.

§21-2-384(e); S.B.202 §27

CONSEQUENCES

RCV system becomes necessary because voters living abroad will not receive a VBM ballot on time due to the compressed runoff timetable.

Before SB202

"Jungle primaries" (2) were common.

After SB202 (Current Law)

No more "jungle primaries."

§21-2-501; S.B. 202 §42

CONSEQUENCES

Prevents 2020 style Loeffler–Collins–Warnock election.

Discover More Here

Vote by Mail (VBM)

How does SB202 affect voting by mail?

Early In-Person Voting and Dropboxes

How does SB202 affect early in-person voting and dropboxes?

Election Day Voting

How does SB202 affect election day voting?

Runoff Elections

How does SB202 affect runoff elections?

Ballots, Processing, and Returns

How does SB202 affect ballots, processing, and returns?

County Election Administration

How does SB202 affect the county election administration?

Secretary of State (SOS) & State Election Board (SEB)

How does SB202 affect the secretary of state (SOS) & state election board (SEB)?

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Footnotes:

1: The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) mandates additional absentee voting requirements for federal elections for UOCAVA voters. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) defines UOCAVA voters as “U.S. citizens who are active members of the Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their eligible family members, and U.S. citizens residing outside the United States.”

2: Jungle primaries are elections where all candidates running for an office, regardless of party, participate in the same election. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the two highest vote getters, regardless of party, continue on to the runoff election.