Are Atlantans prepared to vote?
Over the course of three months, Canopy Atlanta surveyed communities with chronically low voter turnout around metro-Atlanta, and we came across voters who still had lots of questions about the voting process.
About 8 percent of people surveyed did not know where their precincts were and 10 percent were unsure of whether they plan to vote in November. Beyond the numbers, Canopy Atlanta’s elections team met community members who posed questions about early voting, absentee ballots and other aspects of the voting process.
To answer some of those questions, we’ve created this voting guide that breaks down important dates and details related to absentee ballots, in-person voting and early voting. Additionally, we share answers to some frequently asked questions about the voting process.
Important dates
SEP
21
Earliest day to mail an absentee ballot
OCT
7
Deadline for voter registration
15
Early in-person voting begins
25
Deadline for mail-in absentee ballot application
NOV
1
Early in-person voting ends
5 ELECTION DAY
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
If you are in line by 7 p.m., you are allowed to cast your ballot.
What You Need to Know
Register to Vote
Register
Register to vote online through the State’s online voter registration system or download and complete the postage-paid voter registration application and mail it to the Secretary of State’s office.
Have You Moved?
If you have moved since you last voted, you must file a notice of your new address in writing to your County Board of Registrar’s Office, or submit a new voter registration application.
Other Requirements
- Must be a US citizen and be a legal resident of the county.
- Must be at least 17 1/2 years old to register and 18 years old to vote on election day.
- Must not be serving a sentence for conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude and have not been found mentally incompetent by a judge. If you have been convicted of a felony and have questions about whether you can register to vote, visit Restore Your Vote to determine your eligibility.
Requesting an Absentee Ballot
The deadline for mail-in absentee ballot applications is October 25.
You do not need a reason to request an absentee ballot.
Request a Ballot
Log into My Voter Page. Under “Voter Details,” provide your phone number or email address.
Under “Voter Identification,” enter your Georgia Driver’s License Number or State Identification Card Number – or check the box to indicate that you don’t have either and include a copy of acceptable ID.
Download and Print Your Application
Download and print the absentee ballot application. You do not need to request a specific type of ballot for a general election.
Fill Out Your Ballot
Fill your application carefully and sign it by hand, with ink, as required by Georgia law. One of the most common reasons an absentee ballot is rejected is because it has not been properly signed. Be sure to carefully read and follow all instructions included in your absentee ballot.
Submit Your Ballot
Submit the form online, by email, by mail, by fax, or in person. If necessary, include a copy of alternative, accepted ID.
- Submit in Person: Present the application in person to your County Board of Registrar’s Office and bring an accepted photo ID.
- Submit by Email: Find the correct email address for your County Board of Registrar’s Office.
- Submit by Mail: In an addressed, stamped envelope, include your signed, completed application, and mail to your County Board of Registrar’s Office.
- Submit by Fax: Fax the application to your County Board of Registrar’s Office.
Returning an Absentee Ballot
Once approved, you will receive your ballot by mail.
Complete Your Ballot
Fill out and sign your ballot according to the instructions provided. Failure to complete your ballot correctly could invalidate your ballot.
Return Your Ballot
To submit your vote, you can mail it back, submit it at a drop box, or hand deliver it.
Each county has a minimum of one drop box, located indoors and available to voters during operating hours. Contact your county registrar for your drop box location(s).
Follow Up
After returning your ballot, here are ways to follow up:
- Verify that your ballot was accepted by visiting the Georgia My Voter Page. Log in and look for the section labeled “Absentee Ballot Request Information” to check your status.
- If your ballot was rejected, your county elections office will contact you with a document to “cure” or correct your ballot envelope.
- If you attempt to vote in person because you never received a requested absentee ballot, you will have to sign a document attesting that you are only voting once.
- Contact your county registrar for more information.
Early Voting
When
- Early voting begins October 15 and ends November 1.
- Counties can have early voting Monday- Friday and times can vary (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Some counties have added additional Saturday and Sunday voting hours as optional. Verify dates and polling hours with your early voting precinct.
Where
- Unlike Election Day, you do not have to vote at an assigned polling location during early voting. You may vote at any early voting location within your county.
- Find available voting locations by visiting the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.
Don’t Forget Your ID
Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or voter identification card.
Voting in Person on Election Day
Before You Go
Confirm Your Status
Check My Voter Page to confirm your voter registration status.
Bring Your ID
Have a valid photo identification. Acceptable examples include a driver’s license or a U.S. passport. Georgia also offers a free voter ID card, which can be issued at any County Board of Registrar’s Office.
Special Assistance
If you require special assistance to vote or to access your polling place, contact your County Board of Registrar’s Office.
Find Your Polling Location
You must vote at your designated polling place or precinct. Find your assigned polling location on your voter registration card, by logging into the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page, or by contacting your County Board of Registrar’s Office.
At the Polling Location
Provisional Ballot
If you show up to your polling place but have not met all the requirements listed above, you have the right to request a provisional ballot. Your vote will count as long as you resolve the eligibility issues within three days after Election Day. Learn more about provisional ballots.
Problems at the Polls
If you encounter a problem at the polls, please contact your County Board of Registrar’s Office or the Georgia Secretary of State. Call the Secretary of State at 404-656-2871 (in metro Atlanta) or 877-725-9797 (elsewhere in Georgia) to report an issue. You can also submit a complaint online to the Secretary of State Elections Division.
FAQs
What if I requested an absentee ballot but want to vote in-person?
If you still have the absentee ballot, visit the poll manager at your precinct and hand over the absentee ballot. You may submit a ballot at a polling location once that’s turned into the polling staff. You may also make a written request to have the ballot marked “canceled.” If your absentee ballot has been voted, returned to, and received by the board of registrars, then no other ballot will be issued to you.
I did not vote in the last election, do I need to re-register?
No, you will not be required to register again if you miss one election. However, if your records show you have not had contact with your local election office over five years, you’ll be considered an inactive voter. After two general elections with no contact, you will receive notice that your registration will be canceled. Check Georgia’s voter resources website “inactive voter” section for more information about how to reverse your inactive status.
Will my polling place be accessible to voters with disabilities?
The law requires that your county provide polling places that are accessible to people with disabilities. Georgia’s paper-ballot voting system has adjustments to accommodate various disabilities, including voting machines with headsets, large controls for people with limited mobility and sip-and-puff devices. There’s also an option for those with visual impairment to use a mobile app. Refer to the Voting Assistance for People with Disabilities page for more information. Any voter with disabilities or who is 75 years of age or older and requires assistance in voting, may vote immediately at the next available voting compartment or booth without having to wait in line.
Will my polling place be accessible to a voter with limited English?
It depends on counties’ legislation and on the percentage of the minority group in the state. At the federal level, the Voting Rights Act protects your ability to have a translator at the polls.
Section 203 of the Act requires translated materials be made available for a particular minority group in counties where more than 10,000 or 5 percent of all total voting-age citizens are members of a single language minority group, such as Spanish. However, the federal mandate is a minimum requirement. Election jurisdictions can take additional measures to expand language assistance to language minority voters. Several Georgia counties, including Athens-Clarke, DeKalb, and Gwinnett, have already taken steps to increase language access even if they are not required to do so under Section 203.
What if there are changes to my name or it doesn’t match my Driver’s License or other type of ID?
You must register to vote at your current residential address, since your representatives are based on the location of your residential address. Change your address or name at least 30 days before an election in Georgia online at the Secretary of State’s website. If you show up to your polling place but have not met all the requirements listed above, you have the right to request a provisional ballot. Your vote will count as long as you resolve the eligibility issues within three days after Election Day. Learn more about provisional ballots.
There was a voting legislation passed by the government back in May. What are some key changes?
This Act revised elections and voting in significant areas, including voting access, ballot counting, and power and controls. The Act includes a number of voting mandates like requiring identification for absentee voting, prohibiting food and water handouts to voters in line, earlier absentee ballot deadlines, bans on voting buses and several other changes. Read more about SB 202: Revisions to Georgia’s Election and Voting Procedures here.
Is transportation assistance available for those who don’t have a ride to the poll (aside from those with disabilities)?
Certain counties, organizations such as the New Georgia Project, and rideshare companies (Lyft and Uber) have previously provided rides (or discounted rides to the poll). For updates on the specific rideshare options on Election Day, be sure to follow Canopy Atlanta’s Election page here.
Editor: Stephanie Toone
Fact Checker: Julianna Bragg
Canopy Atlanta Reader: Kamille Whittaker
