Gold standard

Georgia officials are pointing to the state's voter citizenship verification system as a national model, citing 15 years of development that combines REAL ID driver's license data, jury duty citizenship affidavits, and the federal SAVE database to check voter eligibility. About 98% of Georgia's registered voters hold a REAL ID, with citizenship documentation reviewed at issuance and records updated hourly with the secretary of state's office. The state has also defended its verification procedures in court, including against challenges from Stacey Abrams' Fair Fight Action.

Georgia has run its full voter file through SAVE, though a recent court injunction has blocked an expanded version of that federal system. The state has been ranked favorably by groups including the Heritage Foundation, the Center for Election Innovation & Research, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and R Street. Post-2022 survey data cited shows high voter confidence in the state's election process, as officials argue verification and ballot access can coexist.