Georgia

How to Make Sure You Get to Vote in Georgia

If you have any problems with registering or voting, have someone try to prevent you from voting, have a question that isn't answered here, or need help with voting, call the Georgia Voter Protection Hotline at 888-730-5816. You can call at any time, and if you are required to leave a message, you will get a call back within 24 hours or less. Please only call this number if you cannot find help here, as it will be very busy. Georgia got more calls than ANY OTHER STATE on its hotline, BUT CALL IT ANY TIME YOU NEED TO, and have it programmed into your phone, so that you always have it in case something unexpected happens, and your right to vote is threatened or you just have a question.

Note to Voters: Georgia has a website that allows you to do all of these things in one place:

Check your voter registration status
Check on your mail-In application and ballot status/track your application and ballot
Find your poll locations for early voting and Election Day
Find or Contact your current elected officials if you need to
Get the registration information that your county office has on file
Get a sample ballot for the upcoming election
Check the status of a provisional ballot/provisional ballot requestJust visit the My Voter Webpage for Georgia, and you can do all of these things!

Voting & Registration

Who Is Eligible to Vote in Georgia? You are eligible to vote in Georgia if you are a citizen of the United States; a legal resident of Georgia; at least 18 years old; have not been found to be mentally incompetent by the court; are not serving a sentence for a felony of moral turpitude; are registered to vote; and meet all other state requirements, such as showing a Photo ID if you vote in person, or by properly requesting and returning an absentee ballot if you choose to vote by mail.
How Do I Register to Vote? You may register any time up to the 5th Monday before election day and vote in that election. You can register using this form: Register to Vote in Georgia, or you can register by contacting your local county registrar's office.
How Do I Know if I'm Registered to Vote? Visit this page: Check Your Voter Registration Status.
How Do I Know Who My County Registrar is, and How Can I Contact Them? Visit this link: Find Your Local County Election Officials.
What if I've Moved Since the Last Election? You will need to update your voter registration information with your new address. The way to do this is to re-apply to Register to Vote.
Do I Need an ID to Vote? Yes, if you're voting in person. Here is the List of Accepted IDs in Georgia for Voting.
What if I Need a Free ID? No problem! You can Get A Free ID to Vote in Georgia online, or by calling 404-656-2871. You can also get a free ID by just going to your local office where you would get a driver's license OR through your county registrar (see above for contact info for your local registrar). This website also helps people get free IDs.
What Kind of ID Does Georgia Accept if I Vote in Person? You can use a valid Georgia driver’s license, even if it's expired; or any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including one issued by the Department of Driver Services or your Voter Registrar; or a valid U.S. passport; or a valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the US Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state; or a valid US military ID that has a photo of you on it; or a valid Tribal photo ID card; OR the Free Voting ID that Georgia will give you if you need one! There are many options.
What if I Still Have No ID--Can I Still Vote? Yes--If you do not have a photo ID listed above, you can still vote by provisional ballot. You have 3 days after the election to bring the required photo ID to your county registrar’s office in order for your provisional ballot to be counted. If you have to vote a provisional ballot because you don’t have one of the forms of Photo ID listed above, you can go to your county voter registration office, get a FREE photo ID and present it within three days after the election and your provisional ballot will be counted.
What if I Go to Vote But Forget My ID? That's okay! If you simply forget your Photo ID, and time permits, you can retrieve it, return to the polling place, and vote. However, we highly recommend voting early because the lines are expected to be long on Election Day!
What If I'm in Line at the Time that the Polls are Closing/Closed--Can I Still Vote? YES! The state is legally required to let you vote if you are in line to vote by the deadline, BUT DO NOT LEAVE THE LINE for any reason--if you do this, you have given up your right to vote (if it's at closing time. Even if it's before, you may lose your right to vote, because you will lose your place and may not have a chance to get to the voting booth in time--if you don't have several hours to spend in line, DON'T LEAVE THE LINE.
What Should I Do to Prepare if I'm Voting In-Person? Good question! You should vote early if at all possible, and you may expect long lines, ESPECIALLY on Election Day. No matter which day you go, make sure you have the Georgia Voter Protection Hotline Programmed into your phone in case you have any problems, questions, or someone tries to prevent you from voting. Print out a copy of the voting plan card on our website here, and keep it on you at all times. You should also bring something to do, like maybe a book to read or some work you can do while in line, and make sure you bring food, water, and whatever you may need to keep comfortable, depending on the weather. Settle in and wait--it's worth it. If your vote wasn't important, the GOP wouldn't be trying so hard to take it away! And Georgia is a battleground state, meaning it's up for grabs for many big races--make your voice be heard by voting!
Where Do I Go to Vote? You can Find Your Polling Place here, or you can contact your county registrar to ask. You must vote at your designated polling place on Election Day---it will be the address listed on your voter registration card. For early voting, use the link!
When Are the Polls Open on Election Day? From 7:00 AM-7:00 PM on Election Day. If you are in line at 7:00 PM, you will be allowed to vote. For early voting hours, you will need to check your polling place or contact your county registrar.
What If I Want to Vote Early? Voters may vote at early voting locations beginning the 4th Monday prior to the election. You do not need a reason for voting early. When casting your vote in person, you must present present an appropriate photo ID. Please contact your county registrar’s office for early voting times and locations.
What if I'm Disabled or a Senior and Need Help? Voting is legally required to be accessible to disabled and elderly voters. If you need special assistance to vote or to access your polling place, contact your county registrar’s office. Here are some of the Accommodations All Disabled Voters are Entitled To. If you are denied assistance, call the voter protection hotline immediately.
Where Can I Find a Sample Ballot? You can find one one the My Voter Page for Georgia, where you can also do many other things! These things are listed above.
Will My Ballot Be Paper or on a Touchscreen? If you vote absentee (by mail), it will be paper. If you vote in person, Georgia uses touchscreens only. However, if you have a legitimate reason to request a paper ballot, like that you are disabled and cannot use a touchscreen, tell the poll workers--they should do their best to accommodate you. If they can't, call the voter protection hotline, BUT if you want a paper ballot, you should vote absentee to ensure that you get one.

Voting Absentee (By Mail)

I Want to Vote Absentee. Do I Need a Reason? No, you don't need a reason, and anyone who is eligible to vote in Georgia is able to vote by mail/absentee.
How Do I Apply to Vote By Mail? To vote by mail, send or bring a written request to your county registrar’s office that includes your name, address, signature, and the election for which you are requesting an absentee ballot.You can also go online here, print and complete the application, and return it to your county registrar’s office. The county registrar’s office will mail your ballot after the application is approved and ballots are available. To Request An Absentee Ballot Online, follow the link.
What Is the Deadline to Return My Absentee Ballot? Your county registrar must receive your absentee ballots by the close of business on Election Day.
Do I Need to Provide an ID if I Vote Absentee? No. Voters are not required to provide photo identification when voting by mail.
Can Someone Else Request My Absentee Ballot for Me if I'm Unable to? Yes, but they will need to contact your county registrar (link above), and this appears to be limited to family members only.

Voting Provisionally (When It's Necessary & What to Do, so Your Vote Counts

What Is Provisional Voting? Provisional voting is not the same as regular voting--it means your ballot will only count if you do certain things to fix the reason why you were given a provisional ballot. Voting provisionally allows you to cast a ballot in person even if all the requirements for voting cannot be met at the time. The provisional ballot will count if the problem is solved within 3 days after Election Day.
What Are the Reasons Why I Might Be Required to Vote Provisionally? (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 ID at that time (or have an exception to providing ID), 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 (which may mean you either are not registered there, you have moved and forgot to update your voter registration, or you were purged from the voter rolls, among other reasons).
What Is the Reason to Vote Regularly (non-provisionally) if Possible? Because if you vote non-provisionally, you can be sure that if you did everything correctly, your vote will definitely count! With a provisional ballot, you have only 3 days to fix the problem, and that may be a very busy time. It's best to resolve the problem ahead of time. Since the common reasons for being issued a provisional ballot are having moved without updating your address, not bringing ID to the polls if you vote in person, or not providing ID when you registered, you should plan to have these things taken care of now. Remember, that there is a link above about how to update your address, and you can always get a free voter ID (link above) before the election, so you should be able to meet the requirements for a regular ballot in most cases. If, for some reason, you are being issued a provisional ballot but believe that this is a mistake, PLEASE call the voter protection hotline--they will help you! Thanks!