Georgia
Georgia has many strict laws in place to ensure election and voter integrity. These include both the allowance of poll watchers and some of the nation’s strongest anti-voter intimidation laws.
To hold election officers to the highest standard, poll watching is permitted but there are strict legal limits on who can be a poll watcher in Georgia. These include:
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All poll watchers must be identified to election officials in advance of the election by party or candidate representatives. Ga. Code § 21-2-408(b).
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All poll watcher appointments must be confirmed in writing and submitted to election officials before Election Day. Ga. Code § 21-2-408(b).
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All appointed poll watchers must report immediately to the poll manager to obtain their official poll watcher badges prior to starting their shifts. Georgia Code. § 21-2-408(d).
Georgia also strongly protects the right of every American citizen to cast their vote. Georgia law prohibits voter intimidation or election interference of any kind. Election officials can remove unauthorized or unruly poll watchers or any other person who inappropriately engages with voters. ​ Voter intimidation or interference is a felony punishable by prison for at least a year, or a fine not to exceed $100,000, or both.
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Voter intimidation includes:
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Direct confrontation of prospective voters
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Insulting, offensive, or threatening language
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False information about voter requirements
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Blocking entry to a polling place
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The use or threat of physical force
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Guns at polling places. All firearms, apart from those belonging to police officers and certified security guards, are prohibited within 150 feet of polling places. Ga Code § 21-2-413(i).
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Georgia laws are very effective at protecting honest and secure elections. Only one Georgia election has ever been overturned because of voter fraud (during a Republican primary).
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Despite a track record of secure elections, Georgia leadership has recently introduced the Election Integrity Act of 2021, originally known as SB 202. This bill makes it harder for Georgia citizens to vote, without making meaningful improvements to election integrity. ​Among its rules, the Act eliminates previously accepted voter identification frequently used by veterans and the elderly, limits the use of ballot drop boxes that are American workers with long hours, and reduces the amount of time people have to request an absentee ballot.
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For more information on Georgia voting laws, check here.