Decatur, Georgia, Leaseholder Homestead Exemption Measure (November 2023)

Decatur Leaseholder Homestead Exemption Measure
Election date November 7, 2023
Topic Local property and Local property tax
Status Approved
Type Referral

Decatur Leaseholder Homestead Exemption Measure was on the ballot as a referral in Decatur on November 7, 2023. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported providing a $40,000 homestead exemption from city property taxes  for residents who lease land for at least 99 years from a tax-exempt nonprofit and own the improvements on the property.

A "no" vote opposed providing a $40,000 homestead exemption from city property taxes  for residents who lease land for at least 99 years from a tax-exempt nonprofit and own the improvements on the property.

A simple majority was required to approve the measure.

Election results

Decatur Leaseholder Homestead Exemption Measure
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		3,357	84.60%
No		611	15.40%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Leaseholder Homestead Exemption Measure was as follows:

“

Shall the Act be approved which provides a new homestead exemption from City of Decatur ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of $40,000.00 for each resident of the City of Decatur who holds real property subject to a written lease having an initial term of not less than 99 years with a landlord that is an entity exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and who owns all improvements located on the real property, subject to sale restrictions intended to preserve the affordability of the residence?

”

Path to the ballot

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing body of Decatur.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Georgia

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Georgia.

How to vote in Georgia

Poll times

In Georgia, polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Eastern Time. In cities with a population greater than 300,000 people, polls remain open until 8 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Georgia, one must be a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of their county. The voter must be at least 17.5 years of age at the time of registration, 18 years old at the time of the election, and not serving a sentence for a felony conviction.

The deadline to register to vote is 29 days prior to the election. Registration can be completed online, in person, or by mail.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

In Georgia, eligible voters are automatically registered to vote when they conduct transactions at the Department of Driver Services. The eligible voter may opt-out of registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Georgia has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Georgia does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Georgia, a voter must be a resident of the state, and of the county in which they are registering. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

A Georgia state law, passed in 2009, required voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. However, as of January 2026, the law had not been implemented. Instead, the state compares an individual's driver's license number or Social Security number against state records to see if a person has provided proof of citizenship. If they have not, an individual will be notified that they must provide proof of citizenship in order to vote.

In Georgia, an individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who provides false information on a voter registration application is guilty of a felony.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site GA My Voter Page, run by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Georgia requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Georgia Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID card issued by your county registrar's office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services. A Georgia driver's license, even if expired Student ID from a Georgia public College or University Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state Valid U.S. passport ID Valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph of the voter

”

Voters can obtain a free voter ID card from any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services Office. Click here for more information on obtaining a free voter ID card in Georgia.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2023
• Local property tax on the ballot

Georgia

• Georgia 2023 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Georgia
• Decatur, Georgia

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas