Stephen Fowler for GPB:

The Georgia State Election Board made a number of rule changes Monday that will streamline the absentee voting process as officials prepare for a record vote-by-mail turnout in the November general election. 

County election workers can now begin publicly processing – but not tabulating – absentee ballots two weeks and a day before Election Day, a decision that could minimize delays in reporting election results that have plagued other states coping with election administration during the coronavirus pandemic. Another emergency rule also authorizes the secretary of state’s office to create an online portal that will allow voters to request absentee ballots and provide local officials with a centralized database to send out ballots. …