Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible to vote?

You are eligible to vote if you will be 18 by General Election Day, are a US citizen and a legal resident of Georgia.

What if I have a record or am a felon, am I eligible?

The short answer is YES. You are eligible to vote in Georgia if:

• You have completed your sentence for a felony conviction (including probation and parole)
• You are in jail but not serving a sentence for a felony conviction
• You are under a First Offender or Conditional Discharge felony sentence that has not been revoked
• You are serving a sentence for a misdemeanor conviction
• You meet all other basic requirements for voting such as age, citizenship, residency, and have registered to vote

You can visit the full FAQs on voting with a criminal record in Georgia by clicking here. We recommend reaching out to Georgia Justice Project if you need additional help, as they are experts on this topic!

When is the voting registration deadline to vote in the Senate runoffs?

The voting registration deadline to vote in the fall Georgia elections is October 4th, 2021.

How do I register?

There are two ways to register - online or by traditional snail mail. We recommend using the online tool if possible, since this will be more efficient than a paper registration, given the delays with the USPS and the upcoming registration deadline.

• Online registration: go to www.registertovote.sos.ga.gov
• Paper registration: click here to download a paper copy of the application. Once you fill it out completely (don’t forget to sign it!), you can mail it to this address: Secretary of State, State of Georgia, PO Box 105325, Atlanta GA 30348-9562. If you are able to print double-sided, all you need to do is fold the paper in half, tape it together and place it in the mailbox, no stamp needed!

What if the address on my drivers’ license doesn’t match my registration?

You must be registered at your current address. To update your registration, go to the Secretary of State’s voter registration website at www.registertovote.sos.ga.gov and follow the steps to update your existing record.

If your drivers’ license does not reflect the current address you’re registered at and you don’t have time to update it, you CAN still register. However, you will need to bring “acceptable” documentation with you when you go to vote.

What is considered “acceptable” documentation?

Acceptable documentation must show your first and last name, a photo, current Georgia address, and must be less than 60 days old. For most people, this comes in one document - your drivers’ license or government ID card. However, if you don’t have one document that meets all of these requirements, you can bring multiple!

It is important to note that any documents you bring must be government issued.

• Examples:
  • Acceptable photo IDs: passport, government issued employee badge, military ID
  • Acceptable documents with your address: Copy of GA utility bill, copy of Bank Statement, Copy of Government check, copy of Paycheck, copy of other government document.

Review the full list of acceptable forms of ID here.

What if I voted in another state for the 2020 Presidential Election and want to vote in Georgia's upcoming election?

As long as you are currently a Georgia resident and the address on your photo ID is updated to reflect your current GA address, you can vote in the Georgia runoff! You will still need to make sure that you are registered in Georgia and that the address on file matches your photo ID, but this can all be done online by visiting www.registertovote.sos.ga.gov. You must be registered to vote in Georgia by October 4th, 2021.

What advice do you have for prospective voters about to start the registration process?

Common mistakes to watch out for when people are filling out paper forms:

• Forgetting to sign the form
• Entering today’s date and the registrant’s birthday in the wrong place, and
• Failing to provide a full driver’s license or the last four digits of a Social Security number. You can track your registration status and find your polling place location on the Secretary of State's website at mvp.sos.ga.gov.

What is absentee voting? Is it the same thing as mail-in voting?

Absentee and mail-in voting are the same. This is a way to vote without having to go in-person to an official polling location.

Am I eligible to vote absentee/by mail?

Yes! In Georgia, everyone is eligible to vote by mail for the November general elections due to concerns about COVID-19.

How do I vote by mail?

Voting by mail is easy! Here are the high-level steps:

1. Submit a ballot application - you can do that through the SoS online portal here. Although we recommend this as the quickest way to submit your application, you can still mail a printed application by clicking here.
2. Once you receive the ballot in the mail, fill it out and sign it.
3. Return the completed ballot by either mailing your ballot in or bring it to an official drop box within your county.

For a full run-down of the vote by mail process, download our infographic by clicking here!

When should I expect to receive my absentee ballot?

Counties plan to begin mailing out absentee ballots on in September and processes ballots on a rolling basis (so the later you submit an application, the later you will receive your absentee ballot). Expect it to take anywhere from 10-15 business days from when your application is received/approved to arrive in your mailbox.

If it’s been approximately 3 weeks since you submitted your ballot application, call your county’s registration & elections office:

• Fulton: (404) 612-7060
• DeKalb: (404) 298-4020

If the county office can’t help you, call the Voter Protection Hotline at 888-730-5816. They are available to help you 24/7 and they are available in 7 different languages. Read more about hotlines made available to voters by checking out a post we put together on Instagram here.

How do I track my absentee ballot request?

You can track your ballot by going to mvp.sos.ga.gov and signing in using your information. Once you're sign in, you'll see a box in the bottom left that says "Absentee Ballot Request Information". Within that box, click on the link that says "Click here for Absentee Ballot status" to when your paper or online application was received. You will also be able to use this to track when your county's elections office has mailed your ballot!

What if I haven't received my ballot by October 18th?

If it’s later than October 18th and you still have not received your ballot, make a plan to vote early before October 29th! You can vote at any of the early voting precincts within your county! If you have not received a ballot, when you go to vote in-person, you will be required to sign an affidavit. But don't worry - you are perfectly in your right to vote in-person. Head to www.mvp.sos.ga.gov to find your county’s early voting times and locations.

Why is October 18th the recommended last day to mail in my ballot?

Monday, October 18th gives USPS just over 10 business days to deliver your ballot to your county’s elections office before 7pm on November 2nd. It also gives you enough time to decide to show up in-person during early voting if you change your mind! Even though there is a chance your ballot will still arrive on time after October 18th, we just don’t want to risk it. Every vote counts!

Where do I drop off my ballot? How do I find a drop box?

We went ahead and created maps for you to find your nearest drop box! Click on the links below to launch our custom Google Maps:

• Fulton County Drop Boxes
• DeKalb County Drop Boxes

If you're in a different county that we didn't create a map for, you can look it up on your County’s website (just Google “[MY COUNTY] drop boxes).

NEW FOR 2021: Because of SB202, drop boxes are located INSIDE early voting locations and only accessible while that location is open. This is super annoying, but plan accordingly!

What if my mail-in ballot is rejected?

According to Fulton County Elections officials, the only reason a mail-in ballot would be rejected is if it has NO signature at all. But if you see that your ballot has been rejected (both BallotTrax and My Voter Page will show this), do NOT panic, but DO take immediate action! Voters have three days after Election Day to correct issues with an absentee ballot, according to a state law passed last year. You should immediately call or email your county office to resolve the issue (they may ask you to come to the County Office and “cure” your ballot i.e., fix the issue.)

• Fulton: (404) 612-7060
• DeKalb: (404) 298-4020

If the county office can’t help you, call the Voter Protection Hotline at 888-730-5816. They are available to help you 24/7 and they are available in 7 different languages.

When does early voting start?

Early voting for the 2021 Georgia Elections begins on October 12 and ends on October 29th. Even if you voted early last year or for the runoffs in January, you'll want to review your county's map for exact locations and operating hours, as these have likely changed. You can vote at ANY polling location as long as it’s within the county that you’re registered in.

Check out the early voting maps that we've created with specific dates and times by clicking here.

Do I have to vote at my assigned precinct?

NO! You can vote at any early voting location in your county! We've created Google Maps for Fulton, DeKalb and Cobb counties early polling locations, which you can use by clicking here.

Not located in these counties? Find out where your county's early voting locations are by clicking here.

What if I recently moved?

For all changes of residence (within the same county or not), you need to update your voter registration, which can be done at registertovote.sos.ga.gov.

For early voting, a change in residence doesn’t matter, as long as you moved within the same county as your previous residence AND as long as you have updated your registration with your new address.

If you move OUTSIDE the county within 30 days of an election, you can vote in your OLD precinct. If you move OUTSIDE the county BEFORE 30 days of an election, you CANNOT vote in your old precinct. You MUST register to vote before October 4th, 2021 in your new precinct.

Can I vote in-person if I requested an absentee ballot?

YES, YOU CAN! When you arrive at the polling place, you will be asked to sign an affidavit saying you have not voted by mail.

We highly recommend going during the early voting period (October 12 - October 29) and at a low traffic time, since this will take a little longer than normal. The best time to go would be in the middle of the early voting period during lunch. We also highly recommend bringing your absentee ballot with you so the poll workers can quickly cancel your ballot. If you run into any issues while you are there, call the Voter Protection Hotline at 888-730-5816 and/or the Election Protection Hotline at 866-687-8783.

What do I need to bring with me?

If you go to vote at the polls, you’ll need to show photo ID. Any of the following will work:

• A Georgia Driver’s License, even if expired
• 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)
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state
• Valid U.S. passport ID
• Valid U.S. military photo ID
• Valid tribal photo ID
• A student ID with photo from a public (but not private!) college, university, or technical college.

If you DO NOT have one of these forms of ID, you can receive a FREE Georgia Voter ID card. Just contact your county registrar’s office. For more information, call 404-656-2871 (the GA SoS office).

What are my rights at the polls?

Whether you are at the polls during the Early Voting period (December 14 - December 31) or on Election Day (January 5th), you are entitled to certain rights.

1. If the polls close while you’re still in line, stay in line! You have the right to cast your vote.
2. If you make a mistake on your ballot, you can ask for a new one.
3. If the machines are down at your polling place, you can ask for a paper ballot.
4. If poll workers tell you that you are not on the list of registered voters, request a provisional ballot. Even if you are not on the list, you are entitled to a provisional ballot. Learn more
5. If you are a voter with a disability, all polling places must be accessible in accordance with ADA requirements.
6. If you are a voter with a disability or have trouble with English, you have the right to receive in-person assistance from a person of your choice, like a friend or relative.
7. You have the right to be free from intimidation, harassment, or coercion while casting your ballot. Learn more
8. You have the right to cast your vote in private.
9. In Georgia, you have the right to 2 hours off of work to vote.

Learn more about your rights on the ACLU website here.

What is a provisional ballot?

Provisional voting allows you to cast a ballot in person even if all the requirements for doing so cannot be met at the time. The provisional ballot will count if the problem is solved within three days after Election Day.

The three reasons for voting with a provisional ballot are:

1. You are unable to show one of the required forms of photo ID when you vote in person;
2. When you first registered to vote in Georgia, you registered by mail, did not provide any identification at that time, and are unable to present acceptable identification the first time you vote in person; or
3. Your name does not appear on the list of registered voters in the precinct.

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 office for your vote to count.

If you voted a provisional ballot because your name did not appear on the list of registered voters in the precinct, the county registrar has up to three days after the election to determine if you were properly registered to vote in that election.

If it is determined that you were properly registered to vote, your vote will count. If you were not eligible to vote in that election, your vote will not be counted, and you will be notified in writing. If you were eligible to vote but voted in the wrong precinct, only the votes for candidates for which you were entitled to vote will be counted, and you will be notified in writing that your ballot was partially counted for your correct precinct.

**In federal elections only, if the polling place is kept open after 7:00 PM because of a court order, anyone arriving after 7:00 PM will vote by provisional ballot. If you are eligible to vote and the order stands, your vote will be counted.

What if I don't have my ID with me?

If you do not have a photo ID listed above, you can still vote by provisional ballot. You have three days after the election to bring the required photo ID to your county registrar’s office in order for your provisional ballot to be counted.

If you have to vote a provisional ballot because you don’t have one of the forms of Photo ID listed above, you can go to your county voter registration office, get a FREE photo ID and present it within three days after the election and your provisional ballot will be counted. If you simply forget your Photo ID, and time permits, you can retrieve it, return to the polling place, and vote.

What if someone at the polling place tells me that I can't vote?

Do not leave without voting - you have the right to a provisional ballot! If someone is telling you that you cannot vote, call the Voter Protection Hotline at 888-730-5816 or the Election Protection Hotline at 866-687-8783.

What are the Voter Protection & Election Protection Hotlines?

Both hotlines utilize volunteers to help answer voter questions and concerns at all stages of the voting process.

1. The Election Protection hotline (866-687-8683) is a non-partisan, national coalition offering help in 10 languages from 9am-9pm EST.
2. The Voter Protection hotline (888-730-5816) is provided by the Democratic Party of Georgia, offering help in 7 languages, regardless of political affiliation. They are available 24/7, although some languages might not be available 24/7.