If your ballot is spoiled for any reason, you will need to return it to the Elections office before a replacement ballot can be provided.

1. Write the word “spoiled” across the face of the ballot and the yellow return envelope; seal the ballot in yellow envelope then: a. mail it to the Elections Office, and once received a Replacement Ballot will be issued; or b. return your ballot personally to the Elections Office. You may vote a regular ballot while you are there or you may have the ballot mailed to you. By Law you cannot take a ballot with you.

Alternatively, you may surrender the ballot to the poll manager of any satellite advance voting location within the county, or on Election Day to the poll manager of the precinct to which you are assigned. At either location you will be permitted to vote a regular ballot.

See the following State Election Board rules regarding spoiled ballots.

183-1-14-.06 Spoiled Absentee Ballots. (1) When an absentee ballot is spoiled, the elector may write “Spoiled” across the face of the ballot, then fold the ballot and enclose and securely seal the same in the envelope on which is printed “Official Absentee Ballot.” This envelope shall then be placed in the second one, on which is printed the form of the oath of the elector, the name, relationship, and oath of the person assisting, if any, and other required identifying information. The elector shall then fill out the required information on such envelope, without the requirement to subscribe or swear to the oath printed on such envelope. Such envelope shall then be securely sealed and the elector shall write across the face of the envelope “Spoiled” and then mail or personally deliver same to the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk in accordance with O.C.G.A. Section 21-2-385.

(2) Upon receipt of an absentee ballot upon which the word “Spoiled” has been written across the face of the envelope, a registrar or absentee ballot clerk shall write the day and hour of the receipt of the ballot on its envelope. The registrar or absentee ballot clerk shall, within two days after the receipt of such ballot, mail or issue another official absentee ballot to the elector. All returned spoiled ballots shall be safely kept unopened by the board or absentee ballot clerk and then transferred to the appropriate clerk for storage for the period of time required for the preservation of ballots used at the primary or election and shall then, without being opened, be destroyed in like manner as the used ballots of the primary or election.

(3) The directions that explain how to cast a vote and how to obtain a new ballot after one is spoiled shall appear immediately under the caption on the ballot in substantially the following form as appropriate for that particular primary or election:

To vote, blacken the Oval (__) next to the candidate of your choice. To vote for a person whose name is not on the ballot, manually WRITE his or her name in the write-in section and blacken the Oval (__) next to the write-in section. If you desire to vote YES or NO for a PROPOSED QUESTION, blacken the corresponding Oval (__). Use only blue or black pen or pencil.

Do not vote for more candidates than the number allowed for each specific office. Do not cross out or erase. If you erase or make other marks on the ballot or tear the ballot, your vote may not count. If you change your mind or make a mistake, you may return the ballot by writing “Spoiled” across the face of the ballot and return envelope. You may then mail the spoiled ballot back to your county board of registrars, and you will be issued another official absentee ballot.

Alternatively, you may surrender the ballot to the poll manager of an advance voting site within your county or the precinct to which you are assigned. You will then be permitted to vote a regular ballot. “I understand that the offer or acceptance of money or any other object of value to vote for any particular candidate, list of candidates, issue, or list of issues included in this election constitutes an act of voter fraud and is a felony under Georgia law.”

183-1-14-.07 Spoiled Ballot Definition.

(1) Definitions. As used in these rules and the Georgia Election Code, the term:

(a) “Spoiled ballot” includes a ballot

1. that has been torn, defaced, or physically deformed;

2. on which there are cast more than the permitted number of votes;

3. that has been completed in a manner which is illegible or incomprehensible;

4. that contains writing which compromises the secrecy of the ballot;

5. that is marked improperly, inappropriately, or in such a way that it would be rejected;

6. that was issued in error by the election official; or

7. that contains the wrong precinct, party, or style.

(2) A spoiled ballot shall not be reinstated.