Georgia § 21-2-375 - Delivery of equipment to polling places; protection for equipment; required accessories.

§ 21-2-375. Delivery of equipment to polling places; protection for equipment; required accessories.

In counties using precinct count ballot scanners, the superintendent shall deliver the proper ballot scanner to the polling places at least one hour before the time set for opening of the polls at each primary or election and shall cause each to be set up in the proper manner for use in voting. The superintendent shall provide ample protection against molestation of and injury to the ballot scanner and, for that purpose, shall call upon any law enforcement officer to furnish such assistance as may be necessary; and it shall be the duty of the law enforcement officer to furnish such assistance when so requested by the superintendent. The superintendent shall at least one hour before the opening of the polls: Provide sufficient lighting to enable electors, while in the voting booth, to read the ballot, which lighting shall be suitable for the use of poll officers in examining the booth; and such lighting shall be in good working order before the opening of the polls; Prominently post directions for voting within the voting booth and post within the enclosed space signs reminding electors to verify their ballot choices prior to inserting the scanning ballot into the ballot scanner and stating that sample ballots are available for review upon request; at least two sample ballots in use for the primary or election shall be posted prominently outside the enclosed space within the polling place and additional sample ballots shall be available upon request; Ensure that the precinct count ballot scanner shall have a seal securing the memory pack in use throughout the election day; such seal shall not be broken unless the ballot scanner is replaced due to malfunction; and Provide such other materials and supplies as may be necessary or as may be required by law. (Code 1981, § 21-2-375 , enacted by Ga. L. 1998, p. 1231, § 37; Ga. L. 1999, p. 29, § 1; Ga. L. 2019, p. 7, § 24/HB 316.) The 2019 amendment, effective April 2, 2019, substituted "ballot scanner" for "optical scanning tabulator" and "ballot scanners" for "optical scanning tabulators" throughout this Code section; in paragraph (c)(2), deleted "on the optical scanning ballot" following "directions for voting" near the beginning, inserted "and post within the enclosed space signs reminding electors to verify their ballot choices prior to inserting the scanning ballot into the ballot scanner and stating that sample ballots are available for review upon request" near the middle, and inserted "and additional sample ballots shall be available upon request" at the end; and substituted "ballot scanner" for "tabulator" near the end of paragraph (c)(3). Law reviews. - For article on the 2019 amendment of this Code section, see 36 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 81 (2019).