VOTER REGISTRATION

Registration Deadline: You can register any time. You must be registered at least 30 days before an election to vote in that election. Look at the key dates to ensure you’re registering before the deadline for the election you want to participate in.

If you changed your name: The simplest way is to submit a new registration application. The county registrar will see your existing registration and update the information from the new application. You can also change your address online.

VOTER REGISTRATION QUALIFICATIONS

Age: At least 17 1/2 years old to register and 18 to vote

Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen

Residency: Must be a legal resident of the county

Mental Competency: Have not been found mentally incompetent by a judge

Felony Convictions: Convicted felons are not eligible to register and vote in the State of Georgia except upon completion of the sentence, including any probation, parole, or payment of fines owed.

OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

Online: Georgia voter registration application.

In person: You can go to your local county board of registrars' office or election office, public library, public assistance office, recruitment office, schools, and other government offices for a mail-in registration form. 

Registration is offered when you renew or apply for your driver's license at the Department of Driver Services. 

College students can obtain Georgia voter registration forms, or the necessary forms to register in any state in the U.S., from their school registrar's office or from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

By mail/ in writing: Download and print a form and mail it to the Secretary of State (address found on form).

VERIFYING YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS

Online: Verify your registration online.

ABSENTEE BALLOT QUALIFICATIONS

Who can vote absentee: Any registered Georgia voter may vote by absentee ballot.

OBTAINING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT

In order to request an absentee ballot, mail, fax, email, (as an attachment), or present this form in person to your local County Board of Registrar's Office. Your county will mail you your ballot 29 days before the election (or 22 days before a local or special election). On the form, you’ll be asked to provide your address, date of birth, the county where you are registered, and then one of the following:

-The number for your driver’s license or free state ID, or

-The last four digits of your Social Security number, or

-If you don’t have a driver’s license, state-issued identification, or your Social Security number on file with the voter registration system, you can upload a photo of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address. 

Military and overseas voting: Find more information at the Georgia Secretary of State's Military and Overseas Voter information page. Your county will mail your ballot to you 45 days before the election. 

If you did not receive your absentee ballot: Contact your county elections office. They will either issue you a new one or tell you how to cancel that absentee ballot so you can vote in person.

SUBMITTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT

Voting By Mail: Voters can request an absentee ballot as much as 78 days before an election without providing a reason, but a request must be made at least 11 days before the election. The county registrar’s office will mail your ballot after the application is approved and ballots are available. Your county registrar must receive your absentee ballots by the close of business on Election Day. Voters are not required to provide photo identification when voting by mail. You can submit your ballot via dropbox as well. Click here to find out what drop boxes are available closest to you.

Vote Early in Person: Voters may vote at early voting locations beginning the 4th Monday prior to the election. Voters are not required to provide a reason for voting early. When casting your vote in person, you must present an appropriate photo ID. Please contact your county registrar’s office for early voting times and locations in your county.

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY

Polling places are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Election Day. If you are in line at 7:00 PM, you will be allowed to cast your vote. 

Click here to view Voting Location Information 

Voter Identification Requirements: Here are the types of acceptable identification for voting in person in Georgia. You will need to present identification when you vote.

PROVISIONAL VOTING

Provisional voting allows you to cast a ballot in person even if all the requirements for doing so cannot be met at the time. The provisional ballot will count if the problem is solved within three days after Election Day. 

The three reasons for voting a provisional ballot are: 

1. You are unable to show one of the required forms of photo ID when you vote in person; 

2. When you first registered to vote in Georgia, you registered by mail, did not provide any identification at that time, and are unable to present acceptable identification the first time you vote in person; or

3. Your name does not appear on the list of registered voters in the precinct.

You can learn more about provisional voting here.

ADDITIONAL LINKS

Deciding how to vote: https://votesmart.org/

Problems with voting: Georgia voter complaint form

Verifying provisional ballot status: Use Georgia's "My Voter Page" to check your ballot status.

Verifying absentee ballot status: Use Georgia's "My Voter Page"

Verifying polling place and times: Advanced Voting Location Information or My Voter Page