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Under the authority of O.C.G.A. § 21-2-50.1 and after careful consideration and consultation with county election officials, political party leadership, and state elected officials, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger suspended in-person voting for the March 24, 2020 Presidential Preference Primary (“PPP”) as of March 15, 2020. In-person voting will resume on April 27, 2020 to coincide with the May 19, 2020 statewide General Primary Election. Secretary Raffensperger made this change because of the escalating threat and spread of the Covid-19 virus and out of concern for the safety and welfare of election officials, poll workers, voters, and public welfare.

In-person voting was suspended on March 15, 2020 and will re-open as planned on April 27, 2020. Absentee by mail ballots will begin to go out as planned on March 31, 2020. Ballots that have already been cast in the PPP will be counted, and those ballots and memory cards should be securely stored. Ballot builders are building the May 19, 2020 ballots so that voters who have not yet voted in PPP will have both the PPP and the statewide primary election contests. Voters who have already voted in the PPP will receive a General Primary ballot without the PPP races/questions. Any voter who registers up until the April 20, 2020 voter registration deadline for the May 19th statewide general primary will be eligible to vote in both the general primary and the PPP. You should begin preparations now for a significant increase in absentee by mail ballots as well as ensuring that you have a sufficient number of backup poll workers and polling locations for in-person voting. The Secretary of State’s office will send further guidance on specifics regarding these issues.

 

The Secretary of State’s Office will continue to work with the 159 county election officials to clarify any necessary changes in procedures in order to continue to provide Georgians with safe, secure and accessible elections.