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Voter Information - Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I register to vote?
- When must I be registered by in order to vote?
- How do I request an absentee ballot?
- What is the difference betweeen absentee voting and advanced/early voting?
- What ID requirements are there for voting?
- Where is my polling location?
- Who qualified to run for office?
- When are the upcoming election dates?
- Does Georgia require political party registration?
- Can I vote in both the Democratic and Republican Primary?
- If I didn't vote in the Primary/General can I still vote in the Runoff?
- If I didn't vote in the Primary can I still vote in November?
- What percentage of votes is required to avoid a runoff in a race with more than two (2) people?
- How are runoffs handled?
- When are the different type of elections (municipal, county, state, federal)?
- What do I do if I have changed by address?
- Who are my elected officials?
Note: Voter registration is a county function. Georgia counties issue precinct cards after reviewing and processing applications.
Georgia citizens have access to several convenient methods of registering to vote:
- Download, complete, and mail a voter registration application.
- Contact 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.
- From the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at (404) 656-2871, or the Secretary of State’s toll-free Voter Information Hotline at (888) 265-1115.
- You may also contact the Elections Division by facsimile at (404) 651-9531.
- Registration is offered when you renew or apply for your driver's license at Department of Motor Vehicle Safety drivers license posts.
- 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.
You may confirm your voter registration status through MVP. If you have submitted a voter registration application within the prior three to four weeks and your name does not appear, please contact your local county registrar office to check the status of your application.
Precinct Cards:
If you have misplaced or have not received your precinct card within three to four weeks of submitting your voter registration application, please contact your local county registration office to request a new precinct card or to check the status of your application. You may also check whether you are registered through MVP.
For more information contact:
Secretary of State
Elections Division
1104 West Tower
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
Atlanta, Ga. 30334
(404) 656-2871
(404) 656-1787 (TDD for the hearing or speech impaired)
When must I be registered by in order to vote?
Normally you must be registered 30 days prior to the election date. If there is a runoff election and you are were not registered in time for the "initial" election you cannot vote in the runoff. See the following page for the election dates and voter registration deadlines
How do I request an absentee ballot?
As a Georgia Voter, State law allows you to cast a ballot even if you cannot go to the polls on Election Day. Citizens can vote absentee by requesting an absentee ballot application be mailed from their county registrar’s office. Absentee ballot applications can also be found online.
There are two categories of absentee voting in Georgia. The first method is absentee voting by mail. Simply mail or fax the absentee ballot application to the county registrar’s office of the county where you are registered to vote. You will not be required to provide a reason why you cannot vote in person. Once the application is approved you will be mailed an absentee ballot. You are not required to include any identification when you mail your ballot.
You can also vote absentee in person. You will be required to give a reason why you need to vote absentee, such as you will be away from your precinct from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Election Day or are 75 years of age or older. If you cast your ballot in person you must present one of the six required forms of photo ID.
You can request an absentee ballot up to 180 days before an election. The time period for you to cast an absentee ballot generally begins 45 days before a federal or state primary or election, and 21 days before a municipal election.
What is the difference betweeen absentee voting and advanced/early voting?
Voters can cast their ballots in one of three ways:
- Absentee
As a Georgia Voter, State law allows you to cast a ballot even if you cannot go to the polls on Election Day. Citizens can vote absentee by requesting an absentee ballot application be mailed from their county registrar’s office. Absentee ballot applications can also be found online at: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections.
There are two categories of absentee voting in Georgia. The first method is absentee voting by mail. Simply mail or fax the absentee ballot application to the county registrar’s office of the county where you are registered to vote. You will not be required to provide a reason why you cannot vote in person. Once the application is approved you will be mailed an absentee ballot. You are not required to include any identification when you mail your ballot.
You can also vote absentee in person. You will be required to give a reason why you need to vote absentee, such as you will be away from your precinct from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Election Day or are 75 years of age or older. If you cast your ballot in person you must present one of the six required forms of photo ID.
- Early Voting
Advance voting allows you to cast your ballot in person at your county registrar’s office on the Monday through Friday before the Tuesday election. You are not required to give a reason why you are voting in advance of Election Day. You will need to present one of the six forms of photo ID. To find your early voting location, contact your county registrar’s office.
- Vote on Election Day
You can vote in person on Election Day at the polling place listed on your voter precinct card. To find your voting precinct, click here: sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/newlocator.asp.
Please remember to bring one of the six required forms of photo ID with you to the polls. For more information visit www.GAPhotoID.com
What ID requirements are there for voting?
1. What identification is required to vote?
Acceptable Identification is:
- A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired
- Any valid state or federal issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar’s office or by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)
- 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
2. Can I use my college or university photo ID card?
If you are currently enrolled in a state college, university or technical college listed below, you may use your school photo ID. If you attend a private college or university, you must show one of the other acceptable forms of photo identification. For more information, call (877) 725-9797.
Acceptable Student ID: College, University, Technical College
3. What happens if I am at the polls on Election Day and I do not have my photo ID?
If you go to your polling place without an acceptable form of photo identification, you can still vote a provisional ballot. You will have up to two days after the election to present appropriate photo identification at your county registrar’s office in order for your provisional ballot to be counted.If you do not have one of the six forms of photo identification you can go to your county registrar’s office or to any Department of Driver Services office, and get your free Georgia Voter Identification Card, present it to your county registrar’s office within two days after the election, and your provisional ballot will be counted.
If you simply forgot your photo identification and time permits, you can retrieve it, return to the polling place, and vote.
The location information is given using the "Poll Location Finder"
Who qualified to run for office?
Please refer to the Secretary of State "Candidate Qualifying Page"
When are the upcoming election dates?
Upcoming Elections and Voter Registration Calendar
Elections Voter Registration Deadline Election Date Municipal General Elections October 7, 2013 November 5, 2013
Key Dates:
January 1, 2013 Earliest day to file and publish a notice of intention to be a write-in candidate in the November Municipal General Election. O.C.G.A. §21-2-133 (a)
August 26, 2013 Earliest day for a candidate for municipal office to file a Notice of Candidacy to have his/her name placed on the Municipal General Election Ballot. O.C.G.A. §21-2-132(d)(3)
August 30, 2013 Last day for an Independent or Political Body candidate to begin circulating a nomination petition for an office other than a Political Body candidate running for a state-wide office in which they are nominated by state-wide convention. O.C.G.A. 21-2-170 (e)
September 3, 2013 Last day to file and publish a notice of intention to be a write-in candidate in the November Municipal General Election O.C.G.A. §21-2-133 (a)
October 7, 2013 Last day a person may register and be eligible to vote in the Municipal General Election and Runoff O.C.G.A. 21-2-224 (a)
Does Georgia require political party registration?
- No, however in a Primary Election a voter may only choose the ballot for one party
- In addition, if there is a Primary Runoff Election, the voter may only choose the SAME party's runoff ballot.
Can I vote in both the Democratic and Republican Primary?
- No. In a Primary Election a voter may only choose the ballot for one party
- In addition, if there is a Primary Runoff Election, the voter may only choose the SAME party's runoff ballot.
If I didn't vote in the Primary can I still vote in November?
Yes, voting in a Primary Election is not required to vote for a General Election (such as in November).
If I didn't vote in the Primary/General can I still vote in the Runoff?
If a voter is eligible to vote in the Primary/General election in question, even if the voter did not vote in that Primary/General they are eligible to vote in the Runoff Election.
What percentage of votes is required to avoid a runoff in a race with more than two (2) people?
A majority, 50% plus one vote is required. Otherwise the candidates with the two highest vote total proceed to a runoff.
According to Georgia Code:
- Runoffs for Primary or Special Primary Elections shall be held on the twenty-first day after the day of holding the preceding primary or special primary
- A runoff in the case of an General Election or Special election shall be held on the twenty-eighth day after the day of holding the preceding election or special election.
- If any candidate eligible to be in a runoff withdraws, dies, or is found to be ineligible, the remaining candidates receiving the two highest numbers of votes shall be the candidates in the runoff.
When are the different type of elections (municipal, county, state, federal)?
In general the elections are held as follows:
Federal:
Presidential: Every Four Years - Even Years divible by 4: 2008, 2012, 2016, etc.
Senate: 2 Staggered Six-Year Termns - Even Years: 2008 - Chambliss, 2010 - Isakson, 2014, 2016, etc.
Congress: Every Two years - Even Years
State:
State-Wide (Except for PSC): Every Four Years, Opposite of Presidential Election Years: 2010, 2014, 2018, etc.
Public Service Commission (PSC): Staggered Six Year Terms
State House & Senate: Every Two years - Even Years
County:
Varies, generally same as State-Wide races, even years off-Presidential election cycle.
Municipal:
Varies, generally odd year elections. Some municipalities stagger election terms.
What do I do if I have changed by address?
Change of Residence
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 to 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. You will be assigned a new voting precinct and polling location. Remember, if you don't register to vote by the deadline, you cannot vote in that particular election.
Elected official information can be found by using the "Poll & Voting Information Finder"
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