Elections and Primaries; curbside voting for certain voters who because of disability or age cannot enter a polling place or are unable to wait in line to vote; authorize
Summary
SB 377 would create a new curbside voting option in Georgia for electors who, because of disability or age, cannot enter a polling place or cannot wait in line to vote. Eligible voters would be allowed to cast a physical ballot from their vehicle in a designated area near the polling place, after presenting proper identification and confirming they are on the registered voter list. Poll workers would bring the ballot and voter certificate to the vehicle, and the voter would mark the ballot privately before returning it to poll workers for secure deposit inside the precinct.
The bill also establishes procedures for handling, counting, and tabulating these curbside ballots. It requires precincts to use the same type of ballot used for absentee voting, preserve ballot secrecy, and count the ballots at the precinct after polls close. Election superintendents would have to track and publicly report the number of curbside ballots cast, and the State Election Board would be directed to adopt rules for public posting of this information. In addition, the Secretary of State would be required to run a pilot program on curbside voting during the November 2025 election cycle and report the results to legislative committees within 90 days.
Impact
SB 377 would amend Georgia election law in Title 21 by adding a new Code section authorizing curbside voting and by revising the ballot-counting statute to account for these ballots. It would impose new operational duties on poll managers, election superintendents, and the Secretary of State, including providing equipment, designated parking areas, ballot security procedures, public reporting, and a statewide pilot program. The bill would primarily affect voters with disabilities and older voters who have difficulty entering polling places or standing in line, while also affecting local election administration and precinct-level ballot handling procedures.
Sentiment
The bill’s overall sentiment appears supportive and access-oriented, with no recorded committee transcript or vote history indicating opposition in the provided materials. Its purpose is framed as expanding voting access for voters with mobility limitations and reducing barriers for those unable to wait in line. The inclusion of a pilot program suggests an interest in testing the process before broader implementation, which may reflect a cautious but favorable approach.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are administrative burden, ballot security, and the scope of eligibility. The bill requires polling places to provide designated curbside voting areas, additional equipment, and extra poll workers, which could raise implementation concerns for election officials. It also requires public posting of curbside ballot totals and allows poll watchers to observe the process, reflecting sensitivity to transparency and security. Another possible issue is the eligibility standard, which extends the option to voters who cannot enter the polling place or wait in line because of age or disability, and some may debate how that standard should be applied in practice.