Click here to visit the website for Georgia Election Protecton.
Upcoming Elections
2009 General Municipal and Special Election: 11/3/09
Polling Place Hours: 7am to 7pm on Election Day.
Click here to download a Georgia Frequently Asked Questions document created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Voter Registration Information
Click here for a Georgia Voter Registration Guide created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Registration Deadlines
You may register any time up to the 5th Monday before the election in which you wish to vote.
2009 General Municipal and Special Election: October 5, 2009.
Identification Required for Registration
Federal law requires you to provide your full GA Drivers License number or GA State issued ID number. If you do not have a GA Drivers License or GA ID you must provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. Providing your full Social Security number is optional. Your Social Security number will be kept confidential and may be used for comparison with other state agency databases for voter registration identification purposes. If you do not possess a GA Drivers License or Social Security number please check the appropriate box on the registration form and a unique identifier will be provided for you.
If you are submitting the registration form by mail and you are registering for the first time in Georgia, enclose a copy of one of the following with your application:
- A copy of a current and valid photo ID,
- a copy of a current utility bill,
- bank statement,
- government check,
- paycheck, or
- other government document that shows your name and address.
How to Check Registration
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Contact your County Elections Official
Voting Information
Identification Required to Vote
Georgia law requires registered voters to show photo identification in order to vote in person. When you vote in person, you must show one of the following photo IDs:
- A Georgia driver's license, even if expired
- Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a FREE Voter ID Card issued by the Department of Driver Services or your county registrar's office
- Valid U.S. passport
- 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. military photo ID
- Valid tribal photo ID
If you DO NOT have one of these forms of photo ID, you can receive a FREE Georgia Voter ID Card. Just contact your county registrar's office or a Department of Driver Services office. For more information, go to http://www.gaphotoid.com/.
How to Find Your Polling Place
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Vsit the Georgia Secretary of State's Poll Locator
Absentee Voting
Click here to visit GoVoteAbsentee.org, a resource for absentee voters.
You may vote even if you cannot go to the polls on Election Day by requesting an absentee ballot by mail or in person up to 180 days before an election.
Send or bring a written request to your county registrar's office that includes your name, address, signature, and the election(s) for which you are requesting an absentee ballot. You can also go online at the Georgia Secretary of State's website and print and complete the application, then just mail or bring the absentee ballot application to your county registrar's office.
Once the application is approved, you will be mailed an absentee ballot.
- You can generally cast an absentee ballot within 45 days before a primary or general election.
- This year absentee voting will begin on September 22, 2008.
Your county registrar must receive all absentee ballots by the close of business on Election Day.
- Voting Absentee By Mail
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- You do not have to provide any excuse for voting an absentee ballot by mail.
- You are not required to include any identification when you mail your ballot.
- Voting Absentee In Person
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- When you vote absentee in person, you must provide one of the legal excuses, such as being away from your precinct during voting hours on Election Day, being 75 or older, etc. You can also vote during the advance voting period, which takes place the Monday-Friday before Election Day.
- If you cast your ballot in person, you must present an appropriate photo ID.
Rules and Deadlines
- More information about Absentee voting can be found in the Secretary of State Absentee Voters Guide
Early Voting
Advance voting allows any registered voter to cast a ballot IN PERSON on the Monday through Friday of the week prior to an election.
Please contact your county registrar for advance voting times and locations in your county.
At the advance voting office, you must fill out an application and provide one of the permitted forms of Voter Identification. You will then be issued a ballot that must be filled out and cast while you are in the office.
Information For People who have Moved or Changed Addresses
Voters are required to notify the board of registrars of their county of residence whenever they move.
If you move within the same county in which you are registered to vote and don't notify the registrar at least 30 days prior to an election, you may vote in your old polling place for that election. You must file a notice of your new address. This can be done by writing your county board of registrars' office, or by submitting a new voter registration application.
If you move outside the county in which you are registered to vote within 30 days of an election, you may vote in your old precinct for that election.
If you move outside the county in which you are registered to vote in excess of 30 days prior to an election, you have lost your eligibility to vote in the county of your old residence. You must register to vote in your new county of residence. If you don't register to vote by the deadline, you cannot vote in that particular election.
Information for People with Felony Convictions
Ex-felons who have completed sentence requirements are eligible to vote.
For more information, go to the Secretary of State's website, or click here to download a Georgia Election Protection manual created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
