Georgia

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State of Georgia Elections & Voting

Election Day is November 5

  • October 7                    Deadline to register to vote
  • October 15                  First day of early voting
  • October 25                  Deadline to request an absentee ballot
  • November 1                Last day of early voting
  • November 5                Deadline for election authority to receive all absentee ballots
  • November 5                Election day

 

To register to vote in Georgia, you must:

  • Be a citizen of the United States
  • Be a legal resident of the county
  • Be at least 17 1/2 years of age to register and 18 years of age to vote
  • Not be serving a sentence for conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude
  • Have not been found mentally incompetent by a judge

 

How to register to vote:

 

In-person Voter ID Requirements:  

  • 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 (DDS)
  • 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 if the voter

Visit VoteRiders for more information on voter ID requirements in Georgia.

 

Absentee Ballot ID Requirements:

When you send an application for an absentee ballot, you must include the number from your driver’s license.

If you do not have one, include the number from your state-issued identification card, which you can get free at any office of the Department of Driver Services or your county voter registration office.

However, if you have neither driver’s license nor a state ID card, then provide a copy or photo of one of the following:

  • United States Passport
  • Georgia Voter identification card
  • Other valid photo identification card issued by a branch, department, agency, or entity of the State of Georgia, any other state, or the United States authorized by law to issue personal identification
  • United States military identification card provided that such identification card contains a photograph of the voter
  • Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States government, Georgia state government, or Georgia county, municipality, board, authority, or any other entity of the state of Georgia provided that such employee identification card contains a photograph of the voter
  • Tribal identification card, provided that such identification card contains a photograph of the voter
  • Student ID from a Georgia public College or University

OR

  • Any of the following documents that show your name and address:
    • Current Utility bill
    • Bank statement
    • Paycheck
    • Government check
    • Other government document

 

Absentee Voting

Absentee ballots are an option for registered voters who prefer not to vote in person. You do not need an excuse to request an absentee ballot. Register online via the online portal for absentee ballot requests or fill out the absentee ballot application and submit it to the application to your County Board of Registrar’s Office in person or via email, mail, or fax.

 

Early In-Person Voting

State law requires local elections officials to allow early in-person voting beginning on the fourth Monday prior to a primary or election, and as soon as possible prior to the runoff. Early voting ends on the Friday immediately prior to Election Day.

Early voting takes place Monday through Friday, and the second and third Saturdays before Election Day. Some polling locations may be open on the second and third Sundays. Be sure to verify available dates and polling hours with your early voting precinct.

During early voting, polls are typically open from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays. Exact hours may vary. Local elections officials may allow early voting beyond regular weekday business hours, but it’s up to the county.

Unlike Election Day, you do not have to vote at an assigned polling location during early voting. You may vote at any early voting location within your county. Find available early voting locations by visiting the Secretary of State’s website and selecting your county of residence from the list. You can also find available locations by logging into your My Voter Page and looking at your polling place information. If no information is available, it may be too early and you should check back closer to the early voting period.

If you have questions about your available early voting locations or if it is closer to the early voting period and no information is posted, you can contact your county registrar for more information.

 

Resources

 

Tribes in Georgia

Federally recognized tribes

  • None

State recognized tribes

  • Cherokee of Georgia Tribal Council
  • Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokees
  • Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe

Native Vote Coordinators

Sign up to be a local Native Vote coordinator.

Major Party Contact Information

Democrat
Chair, Nikema Williams
www.georgiademocrat.org

Republican
Chairman, Josh McKoon
www.gagop.org

Posted in States.