Georgia

Ballot curing is when a voter corrects an issue with their ballot, so it can be counted.  

Does Georgia allow ballot curing?  

Yes, Georgia allows voters to fix an issue with their ballot.  

How will I know if there’s an issue with my absentee or mail-in ballot?  

If the county registrar finds an issue with your submitted photo ID or supplemental documents, then the county will contact you and provide you with a document for you to submit the necessary ID to verify your ballot.    

What is the deadline to cure my ballot?  

The deadline to cure (correct) your absentee ballot is 3 days after the election. 

Can I track my absentee ballot? 

You can sign up to track your absentee ballot on the GA Secretary of State’s website. 

How do I cure my provisional ballot?  

If you do not have photo identification when you go to vote, you will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot, which you must cure (correct) by providing proper photo ID to the registrar by the 3rd day after the election.  

Can I track the status of my provisional ballot online? 

You can check the status of your ballot using your state’s online tool.   

Click here to visit the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission website. For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets. 

Candidate and ballot information can be found here.

What is a ballot drop box?

A drop box is a secure, locked structure operated by election officials where voters can deliver their absentee ballot any time, day or night.

Are drop boxes available in my state?

Yes, ballot drop boxes are available in Georgia. 

Where can I find ballot drop box locations?

Each county has different drop box locations. Please contact your local elections official for you specific counties drop box locations.

Can I track the ballot after placing in the drop box? 

Yes, you can track the status of your ballot through the Georgia “My Voter Page,” 

Early Voting Starts: The fourth Monday prior to Election Day. Contact your 

county elections office for more details.

Early Voting Ends: The Friday before Election Day. Contact your 

county elections office for more details.

Can I vote before Election Day in Georgia? 

Yes. Georgia offers early in-person voting, which allows voters to cast their ballot before Election Day.

Who can vote early in Georgia?

Any registered voter in Georgia may vote early. You do not need an excuse or special reason to vote early.

When can I vote early in Georgia?

Early voting begins on the 4th Monday before Election Day and ends on the Friday before Election Day. All counties must offer early voting during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Counties may also offer early voting on up to two Saturdays and may choose to offer Sunday voting. Exact dates and daily hours vary by county. Contact your county elections office for more details.

Where can I vote early in Georgia?

Unlike Election Day, you are not required to vote at your assigned polling place during early voting. You may vote at any early voting location within your county. 

You can find early voting locations by visiting the Georgia Secretary of State’s website and selecting your county of residence. You may also log in to your My Voter Page to view your polling place information. If no locations are listed, it may be too early in the process, so check back closer to the start of early voting or contact your county registrar for more information.

Your next election date can be found here https://www.vote411.org/georgia.

For more election information contact your county clerk.

Polls are open from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm on Election Day. Any voter who is waiting in line to vote at 7:00 pm will be allowed to vote.

Who is eligible to vote in Georgia?

You are eligible to vote in Georgia if you:

• Are a U.S. citizen
• Are a legal resident of Georgia and of the county where you register
• Are at least 18 years old on Election Day
  • 17½-year-olds may register if they will be 18 by Election Day
• Are not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction
• Have not been found mentally incompetent to vote by a court

Can I vote in Georgia if I have a felony conviction?

In Georgia, you are not eligible to vote while you are serving a sentence for a felony conviction. This includes incarceration, parole, or probation. Once you have completed your entire sentence, including incarceration, parole, and probation, your voting rights are automatically restored. You may then register to vote. Pretrial detention and misdemeanor convictions do not affect your right to vote. For a comprehensive guide on voting rights restoration in Georgia, please refer to your state’s resources.

How do I vote in Georgia if I don’t have a permanent address?

You do not need a permanent home to register to vote in Georgia. If you are experiencing homelessness, you may describe where you live, such as a street corner, park, shelter, or other identifiable location, so election officials can assign you the correct voting precinct.

You must also provide a mailing address where you can receive election-related mail. This may be a P.O. box, shelter, outreach center, or the home of someone who can receive mail for you.

Can students vote in Georgia?

Yes. Students can register and vote in Georgia if they meet the eligibility requirements. Students may register using their school address or another Georgia address they consider their residence. You may only be registered and vote in one location at a time.

Do I need an ID to register to vote in Georgia?

To register to vote online, you must have:

• a valid driver’s license or  
• identification card issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services.  

What types of ID are accepted for registration?

If you are a first-time voter and returning your registration form by mail in Georgia, you must include one form of ID unless you provide your Georgia driver's license/ID number.

Other acceptable forms of ID include:

• A copy of a current utility bill
• bank statement
• government check
• paycheck
• other government document showing your name and address.

You may mail a copy of your ID with your voter registration application, provide a copy during the absentee voting process, or show one of these IDs when voting at your polling place.

What if I don’t have an ID?

You can still register to vote in Georgia without having all the required ID. You can use the paper registration form and note you do not have a GA drivers license or Social Security number and a unique ID will be provided for you.

Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline

When are official election results available in Georgia?   

Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count a large number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.  

Where can I find official election results?  

It could take a couple of days for all the ballots to be counted. Official election results will be uploaded on the Georgia Secretary of State's website as they become available.

You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.

If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.

What does a poll worker do in Georgia?

In Georgia, poll workers (also called poll officials) play a key role in helping elections run smoothly and fairly. Poll workers may:

• Set up and close polling places before and after voting hours
• Check in voters and verify their eligibility
• Help voters understand their rights and the voting process
• Protect ballots and voting equipment
• Assist with the operation of voting machines and ensure procedures are followed according to state and federal law

What qualifications do I need to be poll worker in Georgia?

To work as a poll worker in Georgia, you must:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be at least 16 years old
• Be able to read, write, and speak English
• Be a resident of the county where you will work or, in some counties, an adjacent county
• Have had no prior felony convictions for at least 10 years
• Not be a candidate for public office in the election where you serve or hold a public office other than a political party office
• Not be a close relative (such as parent, spouse, child, or sibling) of a candidate on the ballot in the precinct where you serve

Poll workers must also complete training provided by their county election superintendent before serving. This training covers voting equipment, election procedures, and relevant state and federal laws. After successful completion, poll workers receive a certificate showing they are qualified to serve.

Are poll workers paid in Georgia?

Yes. Poll workers in Georgia are compensated for their service. Pay and specific rates vary by county and by election.

How do I apply to be a poll worker in Georgia?

To apply to serve as a poll worker in Georgia, you can:

1. Visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s page to complete the online interest form
2. Contact your county elections office or check their website for application forms and deadlines.

You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource. If you have further questions on your polling place location, please contact your county clerk.

Georgia is an “open primary” state. You can choose the party’s ballot you wish to vote. This decision does not register you with that party and it is a private decision.

In a primary election if a candidate does not with the majority of the votes (50%+1) there will be a primary runoff election scheduled for a few weeks after the primary election date. The runoff election will have the top two vote getters to ensure that one of them receives the majority of the voters.

If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.

What is a provisional ballot?  

Provisional ballots ensure that all voters can cast a ballot even if voter eligibility isn’t certain when they vote. Voters can mark a provisional ballot, and election workers set it aside until eligibility is verified at a later time.  

Does Georgia offer provisional voting?  

Yes, Georgia offers provisional voting.   

How do I  vote a provisional ballot?   

The reasons for voting a provisional ballot are: 

• You are unable to show the required forms of photo ID when you vote in person. 
• When you first registered to vote in Georgia, you registered by mail, did not provide any identification at the time, and are unable to present acceptable identification the first time you vote in person. 
• Your name does not appear on the list of registered voters in the precinct, and if you have a good faith belief that you are properly registered in your county. 
• You vote during court-ordered extended polling hours in an election in which federal candidates are on the ballot. 

NOTE: Due to a recent change, out-of-precinct provisional ballots will not count anymore unless cast after 5 pm, and a voter signs a statement saying they could not make it to their home precinct in time. 

How can I make sure my provisional ballot is counted? 

If you vote a provisional ballot because you did not have acceptable identification, you will have three days from the close of the polls to present acceptable identification to your county registrar's office for your vote to count.   

How can I check the status of my provisional ballot?  

You can track the status of your provisional ballot here. 

What voting assistance is available for voters with disabilities?

You may receive assistance at the polls if you are unable to read the English language or if you have a physical disability that renders you unable to see or mark the ballot, operate the voting equipment, or enter the voting booth. 

To receive assistance, everyone, except those that are blind, must take an oath stating the reason they need assistance. The person helping you must sign the oath. 

When there is a federal candidate on the ballot, you can select anyone you want to assist you in voting, except for your employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of your union. 

When there is no federal candidate on the ballot, you can select any other resident of the precinct or a parent, sibling, spouse or child (provided they are not a candidate on the ballot or a relative of a candidate on the ballot) to assist you inside the voting booth. No person may assist more than ten voters in a primary, election, or runoff.

Note: Between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:30 pm on the day of an election, voters who are 75 years of age or older or who are physically disabled may, upon request to a poll officer, vote immediately without waiting in line.

Adaptive Voting Machines are available that voters can use to navigate through the ballot and make their selections— a hand-held controller called the Audio Tactile Interface (ATI), sip and puff device, or paddle device.

How do I request accommodation or report accessibility issues?

If you have any questions about receiving help in voting, please ask the clerk or inspector at the polling place.

Can I vote by mail because of my disability?

Any registered Georgia voter can apply for an absentee ballot. You can find more about the absentee ballot process here. 

For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.

Does Georgia require employers to give time off to vote?

Yes. Georgia law requires employers to provide up to 2 hours of time off to vote. Employees must give reasonable notice to their employer that they need time to vote.

Employers may choose the hours during which the employee takes time off. This requirement does not apply if an employee’s work schedule already allows at least 2 hours to vote either before their shift begins or after it ends while the polls are open.

Georgia law does not require employers to pay employees for time taken off to vote.

To verify your voter registration status

Do I need ID to vote in Georgia?

Yes, Georgia requires voters to show a valid photo identification when voting, either in person or absentee.

What types of ID can I use to vote in-person in Georgia?

Georgia accepts the following forms of photo ID for in-person voting:

• Georgia driver’s license or state ID card (even if expired)
• Valid U.S. passport
• Valid U.S. military photo ID
• Valid tribal photo ID
• Valid employee photo ID issued by federal, state, county, or local government
• Student ID from a Georgia public college or university
• Any other valid state or federal government-issued photo ID

What types of ID can I use to vote absentee in Georgia?

When you submit an application for an absentee ballot, you must provide your Georgia driver’s license number or your Georgia state-issued ID card number.

 If you do not have either form of ID, you must include a copy or photo of one of the acceptable forms of identification listed above for in-person voting.

What if I don’t have an acceptable ID?

If you do not have one of the acceptable forms of photo ID, the state offers a free Georgia Voter Identification Card that can be issued at a county registrar’s office or Department of Driver Services.

Can I use my student ID to vote in Georgia?

Yes. A student photo ID from a Georgia public college or university is an acceptable form of photo ID at the polls. Some student IDs from private colleges may not be accepted, so confirm that your ID meets the state’s requirements before Election Day.

What is the deadline to register to vote in Georgia?  

• Online registration deadline: Fifth Monday prior to Election Day (usually 29 days before). 
• Register by mail deadline: Postmarked by the fifth Monday prior to Election Day (usually 29 days before). 
• In-person registration deadline: Fifth Monday prior to Election Day (usually 29 days before). 

If the deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, it will be extended to the next business day. 

How can I check my voter registration status?  

You can verify your voter registration status using Georgia’s voter information tool. 

Does Georgia have online voter registration?  

Yes! Use our online registration tool to complete your application 

Is same-day voter registration available in Georgia?  

No, Georgia does not have same-day voter registration. 

Can I pre-register to vote?  

Yes, you can pre-register to vote if you’re at least 17 and 1/2 years of age. 

Who is eligible to register in Georgia?  

Check if you’re eligible to register here. 

What types of voting machines does Georgia use?

The voting systems used in Georgia is Direct Recording Electronic (DRE).

What is Direct Recording Electronic Voting? 

Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) is the newest system in use in the U.S. All the information about who and what you are voting for is on an electronic screen like a TV or computer screen. 

There are many variations of DREs because many companies are inventing new ones, and many cities, counties, and states are trying them out.  

• Usually, after you have signed in, the poll workers will give you a card that you slide into a device to start your voting session. 
• Some of these devices will show all candidates and ballot choices on one big screen. Often, with these big screen devices you push a button next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for (or yes or no on a ballot measure).  
• On other DREs, the screen is set up to show pages. There will probably be one thing on which to vote on each screen or page. For example, on one screen or page, you might vote for the president. Then you might move to the next page to vote for a senator. Often these small-screen devices have a touch screen, where you touch the screen next to the name of the person you want to vote for.  
• Other devices have a keypad, and some have a keyboard, so you can write in the name of someone you want to vote for. 
• You let the system know you are finished voting by pushing a button, touching the screen or entering something on a keypad. 

You can learn more about voting systems by checking out the Elections Assistance Commission's (EAC) resource.