ATLANTA — Early voting is underway across Georgia for the November midterm elections, but voters may notice a change to the check-in process under a new rule approved by the State Election Board.
Beginning Tuesday, poll workers are required to handwrite each voter’s name on a numbered list, creating a paper record of voter participation.
Bartow County Elections Director Joseph Kirk says the information is already collected electronically, but the new requirement adds a written record that can be used if election results need to be audited.
“This is nothing new, we’re just recording the information in a different way,” Kirk said.
The rule requires a numbered list but does not specify how election officials must organize it. Kirk says counties have options for implementing the requirement at polling locations.
“So we have some options, for example, having one number list per facility, or one per poll pad, which is what I’m planning on doing, so that there’s a good list from every device,” Kirk explained.
Some election officials have raised concerns that manually recording voters’ names could increase wait times during the check-in process.
However, Kirk says the additional step does not compromise ballot secrecy or make previously private information available to the public.
“This is a very small part of the process, this does not affect your ballot, it doesn’t make anything public record that’s not already public record,” Kirk said.
The change comes as voters begin casting ballots in several major state and federal races.
Georgia’s governor’s race features Republican businessman Rick Jackson and Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta.
In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff faces Republican Congressman Mike Collins.
Other statewide contests include races for lieutenant governor and state school superintendent, along with local elections in communities across Georgia.
Early voting locations opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday, with advance voting continuing through October 30.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.