Election Day is approaching and Georgia voters will head to the polls to decide several races, including Atlanta’s next mayor.
Here is a guide of everything you need to know before you go to the polls or if you are voting absentee.
EARLY VOTING
Early voting began on Oct. 12. It runs until Oct. 29. Early voting locations, hours and sample ballots are available online on the state’s My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. Voters must cast ballots in the counties where they’re registered.
CHECK YOUR POLLING PLACE
Unlike early voting, Georgia voters MUST go to their assigned polling location on Election Day. You can locate your polling locations on the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.
On Election Day, polling stations open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
The polls offer audio ballots for voters who are blind or have low vision and booths for voters in wheelchairs. If you need help with your ballot, you can ask a family member or friend to come with you to the polls and fill the ballot in with your choices.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
You will need to show photo ID to vote in Georgia. Acceptable forms include:
- 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); Georgia driver’s license, even if expired; 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; valid US passport ID; valid US military photo ID; student photo ID card issued by a Georgia public college, university, or technical school; or a valid tribal photo ID.
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. If you are a first-time voter, you will need to provide a copy of your ID within three days after the election to your County Board of Elections and Registration.
As long as you do so, your provisional ballot will be counted, as long as you are otherwise eligible to vote.
WHAT YOU CAN’T BRING
Georgia state law bans campaigning within 150 feet of a polling place. That includes clothing that supports a political candidate. If you are wearing clothing with a candidates name or slogan on it, you could be turned away.
HOW TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE
Absentee ballots can be requested until October 22. All absentee ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day. They can be mailed in or dropped in an absentee ballot drop box in your county.
Ballots delivered via drop box will only be counted if they’re put into the box before polls close at 7 p.m.
You can track it your ballot using Georgia’s ballot tracking system. It will tell you when your ballot has been accepted.
What do you do if you never received your absentee ballot? You will have to vote in-person. The Georgia’s Secretary of State’s office says you can cancel the absentee ballot by appearing in person before the registrar.
This browser does not support the video element.