Important Dates and Election Info
Here are the key dates for voting in Georgia:
- Last day to register to vote: Monday, Oct. 7
- Early in-person voting: Tuesday, Oct. 15, through Friday, Nov. 1
- Last day to request an absentee ballot: Friday, Oct. 25
- Last day for absentee ballots to be received: Tuesday, Nov. 5, by 7 p.m.
- Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5
- Runoff Election (if needed): Tuesday, Dec. 3
Voting at a Glance
- Voter Registration: Register on the secretary of state’s website and visit My Voter Page to check your registration status.
- Absentee Voting: Available to all eligible Georgia voters, but absentee ballots are not sent out automatically; you’ll need to request one.
- Early Voting: Also called advanced voting, this option is available to all registered voters. You can vote at any early polling site in your county.
- Voting at the Polls: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bring an acceptable photo ID.
Recent Voting Changes in Georgia
- A 2024 law allows election officials to remove voters from the rolls up to 45 days before the election if their eligibility has been successfully challenged. The law also defines the probable cause needed for a challenge.
- A 2023 law requires employers to give workers up to two hours off to vote during the early in-person voting window. Previously, time off was only required on Election Day.
- New congressional and state legislative maps approved in December 2023 may change district boundaries and affect which candidates appear on your ballot.
- A 2021 law shortened the absentee voting window, introduced new ID requirements for mail ballots, and set rules for drop boxes. Litigation over parts of this law is ongoing.
How to Register to Vote
The deadline to register for the general election is Monday, Oct. 7. Here’s how you can register:
- Online: Use the Georgia Online Voter Registration System. You’ll need a valid Georgia driver’s license or state ID card issued by the Department of Driver Services.
- By Mail: Download and complete a postage-paid voter registration application and return it to the secretary of state’s office. If you don’t have a valid Georgia driver’s license or state ID, provide the last four digits of your Social Security number or request a unique identification number.
- By Phone: Call your county election office to request a voter registration application or call the secretary of state’s office at 404-656-2871.
- In Person: Visit your county election office or register when renewing or applying for a driver’s license at the Department of Driver Services. You can also pick up and submit a voter registration form at public libraries, government offices, military recruitment stations, and colleges.
Check Your Voter Registration Status
Check your registration status on the My Voter Page. Contact your county election office if you don’t receive a precinct card within two to four weeks of submitting your application. A precinct card proves you’re registered and shows where you vote, but it’s not required to have it when you vote.
Registering to Vote on Election Day
Same-day registration is not available in Georgia.
Requesting an Absentee Ballot
Any eligible Georgia voter can request an absentee ballot for the general election starting Monday, Aug. 19. The deadline to request a ballot is Friday, Oct. 25.
- Online: Use the absentee ballot request portal on the secretary of state’s website to submit an application online or download a form and email it to your county election office.
- By Mail: Download and print an application from the secretary of state’s website and mail it to your county election office.
- By Phone: Call your county election office to request an application. Then, mail, fax, email, or hand-deliver it to your county election office.
- In Person: Download and print an application from the secretary of state’s website and take it to your county election office.
Absentee ballot applications require a valid Georgia driver’s license or state ID number, the last four digits of a Social Security number, or other identifying documents listed on the secretary of state’s website.
Voters 65 and older, military members, their families, and people with disabilities can request absentee ballots for every election this year (except special elections) with a single application. Everyone else must submit a separate request for each election and runoff.
Visit Georgia.gov for more information about absentee voting and to download the application.
Returning Your Absentee Ballot
You can return completed absentee ballots in person or by mail. Be sure to include your driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number, on the outer envelope.
- In Person: You, a family member, or a person living in your household can hand-deliver your ballot to your county election office by the time polls close on Election Day.
- Drop Box: Bring your ballot to a drop box in your county by the close of early voting on Friday, Nov. 1. Check with your county election office for locations.
- By Mail: Mail completed ballots to your county election office. Mail your ballot at least seven days before Election Day to ensure it arrives on time. Postage is required.
Use the My Voter Page or Georgia BallotTrax to track your absentee ballot.
Voting in Person Before Election Day
Early in-person voting, also called advanced voting, is available to all registered voters at any early voting location in your county. Early voting runs from Tuesday, Oct. 15, through Friday, Nov. 1. Saturday voting will be available on Oct. 19 and 26, and some counties may offer Sunday voting.
For voting times and locations, check with your county election office or visit My Voter Page or the secretary of state’s website.
Voting at the Polls on Election Day
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. You must vote at your assigned polling place. To find your polling location, check the My Voter Page or contact your county election office. If you’re in line by 7 p.m., you’ll be allowed to vote.
View sample ballots on the My Voter Page when they become available.
Voter ID Requirements on Election Day
You must show an acceptable form of photo identification, such as a Georgia driver’s license (even if expired) or any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID. For a full list of acceptable photo IDs, check the secretary of state’s website.
If you don’t have an acceptable form of photo ID, you can get a free voter ID card from the Department of Driver Services or any county election office.
Voting with a Disability
Counties are required by law to provide accessible polling places. Georgia’s voting system offers accessibility devices, including audio ballots for visually impaired voters and booths for voters in wheelchairs.
If you need help voting in person, you can choose anyone to assist you, except for your employer, union officer, a candidate on the ballot, or a candidate’s immediate relative. If you registered as a voter with a disability, your absentee ballot may be returned by someone in your household or your caregiver.
If you’re 75 or older or have a disability and require assistance, you can vote at the next available booth without waiting in line.
Find more information about voting with a disability on the secretary of state’s website.
