In August 2020, The New York Times estimated that 80 million Americans would vote absentee or by mail in November 2020. That would have been more than double the number who did so in November. 2016.[1] The processes states use to count absentee and mail-in ballots have come under closer scrutiny from state officials, candidates, political parties and the media.
This article describes the rules in georgia for the processing, counting, and rejection of absentee/mail ballots in effect for the November 2020 election. It includes:
- how ballots are processed and counted
- whether ballots can be challenged
- conditions for rejecting a ballot
- whether voters can correct errors on a ballot
The 2020 elections were held in a context of uncertainty. our readers had questions about what to expect in elections at all levels of government, from casting votes to certifying the final results. ballotpedia’s 2020 Election Help Desk was designed to answer those questions.
ballot processing and counting
Upon receipt of completed absentee or mail-in ballots, election officials must first process the ballots before they can be counted. processing generally involves verifying voter signatures and physically preparing ballots for tabulation. processing practices can vary widely from state to state. the counting implies the actual tabulation of the votes.
The table below highlights the key dates and deadlines related to absentee/mail-in voting in Georgia for the November 2020 election.
ballot processing
As of November 2020, processing of the ballot could begin upon receipt. Georgian law included the following provision for the processing of absentee/mail-in ballots:
see law: ga code § 21-2-386 (2019)
vote count
Georgian officials began counting absentee and mail-in ballots at 7:00 a.m. m. on November 3, 2020. As of November 2020, Georgia law included the following provision to count absentee or mail-in ballots:
see law: ga code § 21-2-386 (2019)
georgia law included the following provision about who can count absentee or mail-in ballots:
see law: ga code § 21-2-386 (2019)
georgian law included the following provision for poll watchers:
see law: ga code § 21-2-408 (2019)
challenged ballots
Absentee/mail-in ballots may be challenged in an attempt to prevent the ballot from being counted. Ballots can be challenged for a variety of reasons, including: allegations that the voter is not qualified to vote in the election, the ballot was not received by the stated deadline, or that the voter had already voted in the same election . the methods and grounds for challenging ballots vary and are provided for in state law. states without such provisions do not allow contesting absentee/mail-in ballots.
As of November 2020, Georgia law included the following provision for contesting ballots:
see law: ga code § 21-2-384 (2019)
As of November 2020, Georgia law included the following provision for handling contested ballots:
see law: ga code § 21-2-386 (2019)
rejection of ballots
As of November 2020, Georgia law included the following provision for rejecting absentee or mail-in ballots:
see law: ga code § 21-2-386 (2019)
ticket curation
ballot correction refers to the process by which voters can correct errors, such as a missing or mismatched signature, with an absentee or mail-in ballot so that the vote can be counted. ticket. ballot remediation provisions establish this process in state law. states without such provisions do not count erroneous absentee/mail-in ballots.[3]
As of November 2020, Georgia law included the following provision to curate ballots:
see law: ga code § 21-2-386 (2019)
rules in other states
Click on a state below to view information on how to process, count, and challenge absentee and mail-in ballots in that state.
frequently asked questions about the 2020 elections
click a question below to read the answer:
- general information about elections
- who runs elections in the united states?
- why do states have different election rules ?
- what methods do states use to prevent voter fraud?
- do you have to vote for everything on your ballot?
- what happens if you mark outside the lines or use the wrong pen? /pencil?
- what is a spoiled ballot?
- what is a write-in candidate?
- how do I check the status of my ballot?
- can I take a selfie with the ballot?
- presidential election
- what happens if a presidential candidate declares victory in the 2020 election before the results are final?
- can presidential candidates win elections if they have already conceded?
- what are the steps and deadlines to elect the president of the united states?
- what happens if there is a tie in the electoral college?
- li>
- what are dishonest voters in the electoral college?
- what happens if a presidential candidate becomes incapacitated before the election ?
- Can members of Congress challenge the electoral college results?
- absentee/mail-in ballot processing and counting
- what is the life cycle of an absentee/mail-in ballot?
- what if I vote by mail and want to change my ballot at a later date?
- what if someone votes by mail and then tries to vote in person?
- how do states screen and verify absentee/mail-in ballots?
- how do poll workers check signatures?
- results reported on election night come from in-person or absentee/mail-in ballots?
- Do states report how many mail-in or absentee ballots are pending on election night?
- Do states report Absentee or mail-in ballots take longer to count than in-person ballots?
- What happens if someone votes by mail or absentee and then dies before Election Day?
- dispute election results
- how will election recounts work?
- how close does an election have to be to trigger an automatic recount?
- can a candidate or voter request a recount?
- who pays for recounts and contested elections?
- what are poll watchers?
- what does it mean to question a voter’s eligibility? who can do it?
- what is an election redo?
- who can file lawsuits related to the elections?
- what are the reasons for calling a redo election?
- who can call a redo election?
- can a redo be held for a presidential election?
- reporting and certification of election results
- what happens if candidates declare victory in the 2020 election before the results are final?
- can candidates win an election if they have already conceded?
- how and when are the election results finalized?
- how do the mainstream media of communication declare winners?
- transitions of power and inauguration
- who will be the president if the results of the elections are unknown before January 20, 2021?
- Who serves in Congress if election results are unknown for January 2021?
- Who serves in state or local government if election results are unknown?
- What happens if the winning presidential candidate becomes incapacitated before taking office? ?
- articles about possible scenarios in the 2020 elections
- us. Supreme Court Actions Affecting November 3, 2020 General Election
see also
- ballotpedia 2020 election help desk
- ballotpedia 2020 election help desk: absentee/mail ballot counting and processing
- absentee/mail-in voting, 2020
footnotes