reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
GA Code § 21-2-381.2 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 10 - Absentee Voting|§ 21-2-381.2. State Write-in Absentee Ballot for Certain Electors

  The Secretary of State shall design a state write-in absentee ballot for federal offices and state offices that are voted upon on a state-wide basis for use in a primary runoff or election runoff by an eligible absentee elector who lives outside the county or municipality in which the election is held and who is:   A member of the armed forces of the United States, a member of the merchant marine of the United States, a member of the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or a spouse or dependent of such member residing with or accompanying said member; or   A citizen of the United States residing outside the United States.     Such state write-in absentee ballot shall be automatically included with any absentee ballot sent to such eligible absentee electors for any general primary or general election. No special request for such state write-in absentee ballot shall be required.   The state write-in absentee ballot shall contain instructions for completing and returning such ballot.   The Secretary of State shall establish a website which such eligible absentee electors may access to determine if there is a primary runoff or election runoff for a federal office or a state office that is voted upon on a state-wide basis. The address of such website shall be included in the instructions for voting such state write-in absentee ballot.   The State Election Board may provide by rule or regulation for additional means of transmitting the state write-in absentee ballot to eligible absentee electors including, but not limited to, the use of facsimile transmissions and portable document format electronic versions.   The registrars shall send a regular absentee ballot to such eligible absentee electors in accordance with Code Section 21-2-381. In the event that both the regular absentee ballot and the state write-in absentee ballot are received by the registrars within the time period for receiving absentee ballots, the regular absentee ballot shall be counted and the state write-in absentee ballot shall be kept unopened in the same manner as absentee ballots that are returned too late to be counted. Ballots for primary runoffs and election runoffs that are postmarked by the date of the primary runoff or election runoff, if proper in all other respects, shall be counted if received by the registrars within the three-day period following such primary runoff or election runoff.     (Code 1981, §21-2-381.2, enacted by Ga. L. 2005, p. 253, § 52/HB 244; Ga. L. 2006, p. 69, § 1/SB 467.)
GA Code § 21-2-383 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 10 - Absentee Voting|§ 21-2-383. Preparation and Delivery of Ballots; Form of Ballots; Casting Ballot in Person Using Dre Unit; Casting Ballot in Person or as Absentee Using Electronic Ballot Markers

  Ballots for use by absentee electors shall be prepared sufficiently in advance by the superintendent and shall be delivered to the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk as provided in Code Section 21-2-384. Such ballots shall be marked "Official Absentee Ballot" and shall be in substantially the form for ballots required by Article 8 of this chapter, except that in counties using voting machines or direct recording electronic (DRE) units the ballots may be in substantially the form for the ballot labels required by Article 9 of this chapter. Every such ballot shall have printed with other instructions thereon the following:  "I understand that the offer or acceptance of money or any other object of value to vote for any particular candidate, list of candidates, issue, or list of issues included in this election constitutes an act of voter fraud and is a felony under Georgia law."   The form for either ballot shall be determined and prescribed by the Secretary of State, except in municipal primaries or elections, in which the form of absentee ballots which follows the paper ballot format shall be determined and prescribed by the superintendent.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code section, in jurisdictions in which direct recording electronic (DRE) voting systems are used at the polling places on election day, such direct recording electronic (DRE) voting systems shall be used for casting absentee ballots in person at a registrar's or absentee ballot clerk's office or in accordance with Code Section 21-2-382, providing for additional sites.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code section to the contrary, in jurisdictions in which electronic ballot markers are used in the polling places on election day, such electronic ballot markers shall be used for casting absentee ballots in person at a registrar's or absentee ballot clerk's office or in accordance with Code Section 21-2-382, providing for additional sites.    (Code 1933, § 34-1403, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1968, p. 871, § 15a; Ga. L. 1969, p. 329, § 21; Ga. L. 1997, p. 649, § 5; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1231, §§ 15, 38; Ga. L. 2003, p. 517, § 37; Ga. L. 2010, p. 914, § 20/HB 540; Ga. L. 2019, p. 7, § 29/HB 316.)    The 2019 amendment,  effective April 2, 2019, added subsection (c).   Law reviews.   - For article on the 2019 amendment of this Code section, see 36 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 81 (2019).   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 26 Am. Jur. 2d, Elections, §§ 340, 341.   C.J.S.   - 29 C.J.S., Elections, § 345 et seq.
GA Code § 21-2-385.1 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 10 - Absentee Voting|§ 21-2-385.1. Preferential Treatment for Older and Disabled Voters

 During the period of advance voting established pursuant to subsection (d) of Code Section 21-2-385, each elector who is 75 years of age or older or who is disabled and requires assistance in casting an absentee ballot in person at the registrar's office, absentee ballot clerk's office, or other locations as provided for in Code Section 21-2-382 shall, upon request to a designated office employee or other individual, be authorized to vote immediately at the next available voting compartment or booth without having to wait in line if such location utilizes direct recording electronic voting systems or be authorized to go to the head of any line necessary to cast a written absentee ballot. Notice of the provisions of this Code section shall be prominently displayed in the registrar's office or absentee ballot clerk's office.    (Code 1981, §21-2-385.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2008, p. 1157, § 1/HB 993; Ga. L. 2011, p. 697, § 4/HB 92.)
GA Code § 21-2-389 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 10 - Absentee Voting|§ 21-2-389. Payment of Postage for Mailing Absentee Ballots

 The postage required for mailing ballots to absentee electors, as provided for in this article, shall be paid by the county or municipality, except in cases where free mail delivery is furnished by the federal government.   (Code 1933, § 34-1410, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 417, § 6; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.)
GA Code § 21-2-490 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 12 - Returns|§ 21-2-490. Hours of Operation of Office of Superintendent and Chairperson of County Board of Registrars on Primary and Election Days; Applicability to Counties Having Population of 550,000 or More

  Each superintendent shall cause his or her office to remain open during the entire duration of each primary and election and after the close of the polls, until all the ballot boxes and returns have been received in the office of the superintendent or received in such other place as has been designated by him or her.   The chairperson of the county board of registrars shall cause his or her office to remain open during the entire duration of each primary and election and after the close of the polls, until completion of the duties of said board. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply with respect to such offices in counties of this state having a population of 550,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 1970 or any future such census.    (Code 1933, § 34-1501, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1969, p. 292, § 1; Ga. L. 1970, p. 347, § 28; Ga. L. 1979, p. 765, § 1; Ga. L. 1980, p. 1256, § 5; Ga. L. 1981, p. 535, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 2107, § 24; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.)
GA Code § 21-2-491 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 12 - Returns|§ 21-2-491. Public Inspection of Unsealed Returns at Office of Superintendent; Opening of Sealed Envelopes Upon Order of Superintendent or Court

 The general returns from the various precincts which have been returned unsealed shall be open to public inspection at the office of the superintendent as soon as they are received from the chief managers. None of the envelopes sealed by poll officers and entrusted to the chief manager for delivery to the superintendent shall be opened by any person except by order of the superintendent or of a court of competent jurisdiction.   (Code 1933, § 34-1502, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1969, p. 292, § 1; Ga. L. 1983, p. 140, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.)
GA Code § 21-2-494 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 12 - Returns|§ 21-2-494. Computation and Certification of Write-in Votes

 The superintendent, in computing the votes cast at any election, shall compute and certify only those write-in votes cast for candidates who have given proper notice of intent to be write-in candidates pursuant to Code Section 21-2-133 exactly as such names were written by the elector.   (Code 1933, § 34-1506, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1969, p. 292, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 417, § 9; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.)   Law reviews.   - For survey article on local government law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 285 (2007).   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   Editor's notes.   - In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, decisions under former Code 1933, § 34-1505 are included in the annotations for this Code section.   Constitutionality.    - Trial court did not err in finding that O.C.G.A. § 21-2-494 was constitutional, despite an election challenger's claim that it impermissibly allowed the exclusion of votes for write-in candidates and because it did not require that voters be provided with notice that write-in votes for unqualified candidates would not be counted, as: (1) it was undisputed that nine write-in votes were cast for individuals who were not eligible to hold office, as these people did not give proper notice of their intention of candidacy; (2) no voters were disenfranchised; (3) each voter was given the opportunity to vote for the candidate of his or her own choosing; and (4) the legislature properly exercised its power when it limited the counting of write-in votes to votes cast for qualified write-in candidates. Brodie v. Champion, 281 Ga. 105, 636 S.E.2d 511 (2006).   Persons with spelling problems.   - Persons who do not spell well may take a paper with them into the voting booth which contains the correct spelling of their candidate's name and from which they may copy that name. Morris v. Fortson, 261 F. Supp. 538 (N.D. Ga. 1966) (decided under former Code 1933, § 34-1505).   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Editor's notes.   - In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, opinions decided under former Code 1933, § 34-1505, are included in the annotations for this Code section.   Stickers, pasters, and stamps.   - The use of stickers, pasters, and stamps is not permitted in casting a write-in vote in instances where voting machines or vote recorders are used. 1965-66 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 66-230 (decided under former Code 1933, § 34-1505).   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 26 Am. Jur. 2d, Elections, § 329 et seq.   C.J.S.   - 29 C.J.S., Elections, § 305 et seq.   ALR.   - Validity of write-in vote where candidate's surname only is written in on ballot, 86 A.L.R.2d 1025.
GA Code § 21-2-496 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 12 - Returns|§ 21-2-496. Preparation and Filing by Superintendent of Four Copies of Consolidated Return of Primary; Electronic Filing; Superintendent to Furnish Final Copy of Each Ballot Used for Primary

  Each county and municipal superintendent shall prepare four copies of the consolidated return of the primary to be certified by the superintendent on forms furnished by the Secretary of State, such consolidated returns to be filed immediately upon certification as follows:   One copy to be posted at the office of the election superintendent for the information of the public;   One copy to be filed in the superintendent's office;   One copy to be forwarded to the Secretary of State together with a copy of each precinct return, the numbered list of voters of each precinct, and the returns and the numbered list of voters for absentee electors; and   One copy to be sealed and filed with the clerk of the superior court, in the case of a county election, or with the city clerk, in the case of a municipal election, as required by Code Section 21-2-500.     The Secretary of State is authorized to provide a method by which the election superintendent can file the results of primaries and elections electronically. Once the Secretary of State provides such a method of filing, the election superintendent shall file a copy of the election returns electronically in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of State in addition to the filing provided in subsection (a) of this Code section. The Secretary of State is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as necessary to provide for such an electronic filing.   Each county and municipal superintendent shall, upon certification, furnish to the Secretary of State in a manner determined by the Secretary of State a final copy of each ballot used for such primary.    (Ga. L. 1890-91, p. 210, § 2; Civil Code 1895, § 114; Civil Code 1910, § 128; Code 1933, § 34-3202; Code 1933, § 34-1507, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1969, p. 292, § 1; Ga. L. 1970, p. 347, § 30; Ga. L. 1979, p. 631, § 2; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1512, § 5; Ga. L. 1996, p. 145, § 19; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 817, § 5/HB 1098; Ga. L. 2012, p. 995, §§ 36, 37/SB 92.)   RESEARCH REFERENCES   C.J.S.   - 29 C.J.S., Elections, § 219 et seq.
GA Code § 21-2-501.1 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 12 - Returns|§ 21-2-501.1. Timing Whenever a Municipal General Primary Is Held in Conjunction With the General Primary in Even-Numbered Years

 Repealed by Ga. L. 2012, p. 995, § 40/SB 92, effective July 1, 2012.   Editor's notes.   - This Code section was based on Code 1981, § 21-2-501.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.
GA Code § 21-2-503 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 12 - Returns|§ 21-2-503. Issuance of Commission to Person Whose Election Is Contested; Procedure Upon Finding That Person to Whom Commission Was Issued Was Not Legally Elected; Swearing Into Office of Person Whose Election Is Contested

  A commission which is to be issued, as provided for by this chapter, to any person elected to any office shall be issued notwithstanding the fact that the election of such person to any such office may be contested in the manner provided by this chapter. Whenever it shall appear, by the final judgment of the proper tribunal having jurisdiction of a contested election, that the person to whom such commission shall have been issued has not been elected legally to the office for which he or she has been commissioned, then a commission shall be issued to the person who shall appear to be elected legally to such office. The issuing of such commission shall nullify the commission already issued; and all power and authority first issued under such commission shall thereupon cease.   Upon the certification of the results of the election, a person elected to a municipal office may be sworn into office notwithstanding that the election of such person may be contested in the manner provided by this chapter. Upon the final judgment of the proper tribunal having jurisdiction of a contested election which orders a second election or declares that another person was legally elected to the office, the person sworn into municipal office shall cease to hold the office and shall cease to exercise the powers, duties, and privileges of the office immediately.   Upon the certification of the results of the election, a person elected to a federal, state, or county office may be sworn into office notwithstanding that the election of such person may be contested in the manner provided by this chapter. Upon the final judgment of the proper tribunal having jurisdiction of a contested election which orders a second election or declares that another person was legally elected to the office, the person sworn into such office shall cease to hold the office and shall cease to exercise the powers, duties, and privileges of the office immediately.    (Ga. L. 1893, p. 124, § 1; Civil Code 1895, § 107; Ga. L. 1898, p. 44, § 1; Civil Code 1910, § 121; Code 1933, § 34-2801; Code 1933, § 34-1512, enacted by Ga. L. 1969, p. 292, § 1; Ga. L. 1970, p. 347, § 30; Ga. L. 1993, p. 118, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1; Ga. L. 2011, p. 683, § 20/SB 82.)   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 26 Am. Jur. 2d, Elections, §§ 381 et seq., 438.   C.J.S.   - 29 C.J.S., Elections, §§ 427 et seq., 542 et seq.
GA Code § 21-2-520 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 13 - Contested Elections and Primaries|§ 21-2-520. Definitions

 As used in this article, the term:    "Contestant" means any person or persons entitled under Code Section 21-2-521 to contest the result of any primary or election.   "Defendant" means:   The person whose nomination or election is contested;   The person or persons whose eligibility to seek any nomination or office in a run-off primary or election is contested;   The election superintendent or superintendents who conducted the contested primary or election; or   The public officer who formally declared the number of votes for and against any question submitted to electors at an election.      (Code 1933, § 34-1701, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1050, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.)
GA Code § 21-2-522 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 13 - Contested Elections and Primaries|§ 21-2-522. Grounds for Contest

 A result of a primary or election may be contested on one or more of the following grounds:    Misconduct, fraud, or irregularity by any primary or election official or officials sufficient to change or place in doubt the result;   When the defendant is ineligible for the nomination or office in dispute;   When illegal votes have been received or legal votes rejected at the polls sufficient to change or place in doubt the result;   For any error in counting the votes or declaring the result of the primary or election, if such error would change the result; or   For any other cause which shows that another was the person legally nominated, elected, or eligible to compete in a run-off primary or election.    (Code 1933, § 34-1703, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, Ex. Sess., p. 26, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 772, § 6; Ga. L. 1993, p. 617, § 10; Ga. L. 1995, p. 1027, § 16; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 261, § 1/SB 456.)   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Editor's notes.   - In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, opinions under former Code 1933, § 34A-1501 and former Code Section 21-3-422 are included in the annotations for this Code section.   Requirements for invalidating election.    - The governing authority of a municipality may not declare an election void unless a proper petition contesting the election has been filed and a hearing has been conducted at which sufficient evidence to void the election has been produced. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 85-17 (decided under former § 21-3-422).   Recognition of prior valid acts.   - Municipality may treat election ordered as result of failure of prior election as a continuation of that prior election, recognizing those acts validly conducted. 1976 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 76-23 (decided under former Code 1933, § 34A-1501).   Determination of candidate's qualifications.   - It is not the responsibility of a judge of the probate court, or a county board of elections, to determine the qualifications of a candidate in a general or special election, nor does the Georgia Election Code grant authority to either a judge of the probate court or a county board of elections to make a factual determination as to the eligibility of a potential candidate. 1976 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 76-90.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 26 Am. Jur. 2d, Elections, §§ 389, 390.   C.J.S.   - 29 C.J.S., Elections, § 435 et seq.   ALR.    - Treatment of excess or illegal ballots when it is not known for which candidate or on which side of a proposition they were cast, 155 A.L.R. 677.   Effect of irregularities or defects in primary petitions - State cases, 14 A.L.R.6th 543.
GA Code § 21-2-522.1 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 21 - Elections|Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally|Article 13 - Contested Elections and Primaries|§ 21-2-522.1. Rebuttable Presumption of Legal Vote in Contested Election

 Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, for the purposes of election contests, a vote cast by a person who has been listed on the official list of electors for a period of ten years or longer shall be rebuttably presumed to be a legal vote despite an unsigned voter registration card, so long as that person continues to meet the eligibility requirements of Code Section 21-2-216. For such a voter, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the voter has taken the oath and that the voter registration card is a replacement of the original voter registration card.    (Code 1981, §21-2-522.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 1027, § 16A; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.)   Law reviews.   - For survey article on local government law, see 60 Mercer L. Rev. 263 (2008).   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   Evidence sufficient to show doubt as to validity of election results.    - Because the trial court's finding that four voters in a local election were improperly disenfranchised was not clearly erroneous, and the wrongful rejection of those votes was sufficient to place the results of the election in doubt pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 21-2-522(3), the trial court's act of ordering a new election was upheld on appeal. McIntosh County Bd. of Elections v. Deverger, 282 Ga. 566, 651 S.E.2d 671 (2007).   Evidence insufficient to show doubt as to validity of election results.    - Two candidates who lost city council races by 126 and 133 votes failed to produce evidence placing the results of the election in doubt based on a malfunctioning machine that produced 60 additional votes prior to recertification of the results and 21 absentee ballots alleged to have been improperly counted. Scoggins v. Collins, 288 Ga. 26, 701 S.E.2d 134 (2010), overruled on other grounds by Parham v. Stewart, 2020 Ga. LEXIS 128 (Ga. 2020).