Secretary of State Handel Announces Approval of Georgia VoteSafe Program

Atlanta – Secretary of State Karen Handel today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has approved implementation of the Georgia VoteSafe Program. The Georgia VoteSafe Program provides for the confidentiality of residence address of certain registered voters who have been, or may be, subject to acts of family violence, stalking or currently reside in a family violence shelter.

The Georgia VoteSafe Program was sponsored in the 2009 legislative session by Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome), and Governor Sonny Perdue signed the enabling legislation, House Bill 227, in May.

“The Georgia VoteSafe Program protects victims of violence and their right to participate in the elections process,” Handel said. “Georgia citizens should not have to fear for their safety when registering to vote and casting their ballot.”

Georgians can participate in the VoteSafe Program if they are a resident of the State of Georgia; are a registered voter; and are under either a protective order, restraining order, or are a resident of a family violence shelter, all as defined by Georgia law.

The VoteSafe Program provides that 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.

Georgians can visit www.sos.ga.gov/votesafe to review the program’s eligibility requirements and download the required application forms. For additional questions, please call the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at 404-656-2871, or contact your county registrar’s office.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.