1. All personnel, with the exception of the
permanent employees of the Office of the Secretary of State and permanent
employees of the county or municipal election superintendent, who prepare
voting equipment for use in a primary, election, or runoff shall complete an
oath of custodian before each election. One copy of the oath shall be placed on
file in the office of the election superintendent and an additional copy shall
be filed with the records for the election filed with the clerk of superior
court or the municipal clerk, as appropriate. The oath of custodian shall be in
the following form:
STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY/MUNICIPALITY OF _______________________
OATH OF CUSTODIANS AND DEPUTY CUSTODIANS OF GEORGIA VOTING
SYSTEM
I, _________________________, do swear (or affirm) that I
will as a (deputy) custodian of the voting systems for the County/Municipality
of ___________________, faithfully perform all of my duties in accordance with
state law; that I will prepare in accordance with all applicable rules and
regulations governing the use of the voting system all components to be used in
primaries, elections, and runoffs in this county/municipality; that I will use
my best endeavors to prevent any fraud, deceit, or abuse in carrying out my
duties while preparing the voting system for use in primaries, elections, and
runoffs; and that I am not disqualified by law to hold the position of (deputy)
custodian.
_________________________________
(Deputy) Custodian
Administered by, sworn to,
and subscribed before me,
this ____ day of _____, 20__
Superintendent
(Required by O.C.G.A. Section
21-2-379.6(b))
2. Any electronic ballot markers, ballot
scanners, electronic poll books, ballot boxes and accessories that are removed
from storage for educational or training purposes must be signed in and out on
an equipment log maintained by the election superintendent. The log shall
contain, at a minimum, a description of the item being checked out, including
any serial number or identifying number; the date and time when the item is
checked out; the name of the person checking out the item; and the date and
time when the item is returned to storage. The items checked out of storage
shall remain in the custody and control of the person checking out the items at
all times and the person checking out the items shall personally return such
items. Each person who utilizes equipment for educational or training purposes
must be adequately trained in the use of the equipment prior to the release of
the equipment into such person's custody.
3. Should it become necessary to relocate an
election management system computer or any of its components from one facility
to another, the election superintendent shall notify the Secretary of State in
advance in writing of the reason for the relocation and the proposed new
location. The election management system shall not be relocated unless and
until written authorization for the relocation is received from the Secretary
of State except in the event of an emergency situation beyond the control of
the election superintendent. If an emergency arises causing the election
management system to be moved, the election superintendent is responsible to
notify the Secretary of State as soon as possible of the move.
4. The poll manager shall sign a receipt for
components of the voting system assigned to such poll manager's precinct. Upon
returning election supplies to the election superintendent's office following
the close of the polls, the poll manager shall account for all such items and
shall certify that all such items have been returned or shall describe any
missing items and explain why such items have not been returned. The Secretary
of State shall prepare and provide a chain of custody sheet for this
purpose.
5. All voting system
components and other equipment assigned to designated county election
technicians shall be accounted for on the night of a primary, election, or
runoff and shall be returned to storage. Each technician shall sign a receipt
for all such items issued to such technician and, upon returning such items to
the election superintendent's office following the close of the polls, the
technician shall account for all such items and shall certify that all such
items have been returned or shall describe any missing items and explain why
such items have not been returned. The Secretary of State shall prepare and
provide a chain of custody sheet for this purpose.
6. The election superintendent shall notify
the Secretary of State of any instances of unaccounted for components of the
voting system as soon as possible.
7. The election superintendent shall perform
an audit count of all voting system components housed and maintained by the
jurisdiction on an annual basis. The results of the audit shall be submitted to
the Secretary of State.
Notes
Ga. Comp. R.
& Regs. R.
183-1-12-.06
O.C.G.A. ยงยง
21-2-31,
21-2-379.6.
Original Rule
entitled "Defective Ballot Cards, Duplication and Tabulation" adopted. F.
July 24, 1968; eff.
August 12,
1968.
Amended: F. Aug. 5,
1969; eff. Aug. 24,
1969.
Amended: F. Mar. 6,
1987; eff. Mar. 26,
1987.
Repealed: New Rule entitled "Provisional Ballots"
adopted. F. Oct. 18, 2002; eff.
Nov. 7, 2002.
Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F.
Oct. 24, 2003; eff.
Nov. 13,
2003.
Amended: F. Dec. 21,
2005; eff. Jan. 10,
2006.
Repealed: New Rule of the same title adopted. F.
Mar. 17, 2011; eff.
Apr. 6, 2011.
Repealed: New Rule of the same title adopted. F.
May 27, 2011; eff.
June 16,
2011.
Repealed: New Rule entitled "Handling of Voting
System" adopted. F. Jan. 23, 2020; eff.
Feb. 12,
2020.
Amended: F. Mar. 2,
2020; eff. Mar. 22,
2020.
