En español | All Georgia voters can vote early by mail, but you’ll need to request a ballot. Early in-person voting is also an option. A 2021 law introduced new ID requirements for absentee ballots, among other changes.
The 2022 midterms decided races for the U.S. Senate and House, state Senate and House, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and other state executive offices, as well as several state high courts. The next statewide elections are in 2024, though there will be some local elections in 2023.
The passage of a 2021 voting law introduced some changes to voting procedures, some of which are being challenged in the courts. But in the meantime, here are new rules to remember:
A redistricting plan may affect the boundaries of your district and which candidates run there. A legal battle over Georgia's redrawn political maps is ongoing.
Check your registration status by visiting the secretary of state’s My Voter Page. If after submitting your application you don’t receive a precinct card in the mail, call your county elections office to check the status of your application. A precinct card proves you’re registered to vote and tells you where to vote, but you’re not required to have it with you when you vote.
Find a list of upcoming elections and registration deadlines on the secretary of state’s 2023 election calendar when it becomes available.
Georgia voters do not select a political party affiliation when they register to vote. But during political primary elections, you can choose to participate in the Democratic or Republican primary by selecting a party ballot. Or you can choose a nonpartisan ballot. If you opt to use a party ballot in the primary and a runoff election follows, you can vote only in the primary runoff of the party you selected before.
No matter what ballot you choose in the primaries, you will not be formally affiliated with any party.
Any registered Georgia voter can request an absentee ballot online, by email, by mail, by phone or in person. Requests must be made no later than 11 days before the election.
Absentee ballot applications require a valid Georgia driver’s license, a state ID card number, the last four digits of a Social Security number or other identifying documents outlined on the secretary of state’s website.
Certain voters — including military members and their families, those 65 and older, and people with disabilities — can make a single request that absentee ballots be sent for every election this year, except special elections. Everyone else needs a separate request for each election and runoff.
Completed absentee ballots can be returned 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.
Ballots must arrive at your county elections office by the close of polls on Election Day.
Yes, the status of your mail-in or absentee ballot can be tracked through the secretary of state’s My Voter Page and Georgia BallotTrax.
Yes. Early in-person voting, also known as advanced absentee in-person voting, is available to all registered voters starting on the fourth Monday before an election and ending on the Friday before the election.
Unlike Election Day, when you must go to your precinct’s polling place, during early voting you can go to any advanced polling location in your county. Check with your county elections office or visit My Voter Page for voting times and locations.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On the day of the election, you can only vote in your precinct. Check the My Voter Page contact your county elections office to confirm your polling location. If you're in line before the polls close, you'll be allowed to vote.
You must show an acceptable form of photo identification when voting in person, which can be:
If you don’t have an acceptable form of photo identification, you can get a free voter ID card from the Department of Driver Services or any county registrar’s office.
If you have trouble getting a free voter ID card or have questions about the identification requirements, contact your county registrar’s or election office, or the secretary of state’s elections division at 404-656-2871 (toll-free at 844-753-7825). TTY callers can dial 404-656-1787.
Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Dec. 7, 2022, with information about how to vote in Georgia. The guide was first published on July 31, 2020.
Also of Interest:
This story is provided by AARP Georgia. Visit the AARP Georgia page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.
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