VoteSafe
VoteSafe
State law requires the public availability of voter lists including names and address of registered voters. In 2009, the Georgia Legislature enacted a bill known as the VoteSafe program to provide for the confidentiality of residence addresses of certain registered voters who have been, or may be, subject to acts of family violence or stalking or currently reside in a family violence shelter.
You may be eligible for participation in the VoteSafe program if you meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You are a resident of the State of Georgia;
- You are registered to vote in the State of Georgia; and
- You have met one of the following qualifications
- You have a protective order under O.C.G.A. § 19-13-4 or under a similar provision of law in another state;
- You have a restraining order or protective order under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-94 or under a similar provision of law in another state; or
- You are a bona fide resident of a family violence shelter, as defined in O.C.G.A. §19-13-20.
- Submit a VoteSafe Application; and
- Submit at least one of the following:
- VoteSafe Affidavit attesting that you have obtained a protective order or restraining order; or
- VoteSafe Resident Certification signed by the operators of a Department of Human Resources (DHR) approved family violence shelter certifying that you are a bona fide resident of such shelter
Submit all required documents to your county registrar.
Please remember, the VoteSafe program is only one part of your safety strategy. By itself, the program cannot keep a participant safe.
VoteSafe FAQs
The residence address of a VoteSafe participant will remain confidential at all times from public disclosure and shall be used only for voter registration purposes.
All VoteSafe participant records, files and documents will be kept confidential and shall be used only for voter registration purposes.
Participants' residence address information is kept confidential for four (4) years following the date of approval by the registrar unless withdrawal or cancellation occurs before the expiration date.
The registrar will cancel a participant’s certification if a participant:
- Files a request for withdrawal.
- Applies using false or incorrect information.
- Moves out of the county without reapplying for VoteSafe participation.
- Moves out of the State of Georgia.
- Does not maintain voter registration in the State of Georgia.
If the voter registers to vote in another county while participating in the VoteSafe program, a new application, signed affidavit and supporting documentation must be filed with the new county registrar in order to continue the confidentiality of the voter’s residence address.
VoteSafe is not a witness protection program and does not assist participants in obtaining new names, social security numbers, or relocating to a new residence. Furthermore, VoteSafe is not a legal services program providing applicants or participants with legal representation or advice.