Protecting Residents’ Ballots
Ballot harvesting is the non-secure method of collecting early voters’ ballots during elections with the stated intent of dropping them off to election offices or polling places.
While it is generally a crime to collect voted early ballots from another person, there are exceptions for caregivers, family members, and household members. Voters with qualifying disabilities “may receive assistance in preparing his or her ballot from any person of the elector’s choice,” subject to the disqualified categories of persons discussed above. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-385(b). However, “[t]he person rendering assistance to the elector in preparing the ballot shall sign the oath printed on […]
Protecting Cognitively Impaired and Disabled Georgia Residents During Elections
Federal and Georgia laws that address voting sometimes change, so it is important that facility staff receive legal guidance prior to every election. Facility staff and leadership who are not trained to uphold election laws can make mistakes that could result in criminal prosecutions. Such was the case when a Michigan nursing home employee was sentenced to 45 days in jail and probation for forging signatures on absentee ballot applications in 2022.
Residents who are cognitively impaired:
Some of your residents may be considered “non compos mentis” — a term that means they are “not of sound mind.” Whether […]
Protecting Your Georgia Long-Term Care Center During Elections—Part 2
Once residential directors have identified any facility vulnerabilities, it is important to implement policies and procedures to protect the residents, staff, and facility. It is crucial to educate staff on state and federal voting laws, as well as criminal penalties for vote fraud. Directors can be held responsible for staff failure to comply with the law.
Protecting Your Georgia Long-Term Care Center During Elections—Part 1
It is important for residential communities to perform a self-assessment to protect the voting rights of residents and protect the staff and facility from legal issues and bad publicity. Asking the following questions may be helpful in identifying any vulnerabilities.
Protecting Vulnerable Voters — Georgia
It is important to ensure that the votes of vulnerable citizens are protected and counted fairly. Here are a few key points from the Center for Vulnerable Voters Senior Citizen Voting Bill of Rights that outline what Georgia vulnerable voters can and should expect from our election systems.