How to vote in Georgia
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- Voter registration deadline (online): 29 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 29 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): 29 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 11 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 11 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 11 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election day
Georgia voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 29 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 29 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 29 days before Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Georgia registration using the Georgia voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Georgia you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you want to vote
- be 17 1/2 years old to register and 18 years old on Election Day
- not have been judicially determined to be mentally incompetent, unless the disability status has been removed.
You can register to vote online if you have a Georgia driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
- Visit the Georgia online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 29 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: You must provide your full GA Driver's License number or GA State issued ID number. If you do not have a GA Driver's License or GA ID you must provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not need to register with a party to take part in that party’s primary, caucus or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: This information is requested but not required.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 29 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Georgia driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Georgia address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Voting rights are restored upon completion of prison, parole, probation, and payment of all fees and fines.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- court fees
- restitution fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Georgia absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: 78 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): 11 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 11 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 11 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election day
Any registered Georgia voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- Visit the Georgia absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 11 days before Election Day.
- Download the Georgia absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 11 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 11 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
- Online applications: you must provide your Georgia driver's license number or state ID number.
- Paper applications: You must provide your Georgia driver's license or state ID number. If you do not have one, you can supply a photocopy of another type of valid ID.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
You must include your Georgia drivers license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Additionally, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Georgia absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the signature the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 3rd day after Election Day in order for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if you are hospitalized within 10 days of an election.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Georgia early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 21 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
You must show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of Georgia, the Federal Government or a U.S. recognized tribe at the polls. However, your ID can be expired if it is a Georgia drivers license. If you do not have a valid ID, you can show a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or other government document that includes your name and address. You can also show a student ID as long as it was issued by a Georgia public university or college.
Georgia voter ID guide
You must show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of Georgia, the Federal Government or a U.S. recognized tribe at the polls. However, your ID can be expired if it is a Georgia drivers license. If you do not have a valid ID, you can show a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or other government document that includes your name and address. You can also show a student ID as long as it was issued by a Georgia public university or college.
- Online applications: you must provide your Georgia driver's license number or state ID number.
- Paper applications: You must provide your Georgia driver's license or state ID number. If you do not have one, you can supply a photocopy of another type of valid ID.
You must include your Georgia drivers license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Additionally, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register to vote online if you have a Georgia driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Georgia elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Elections Division Office of the Secretary of State 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Suite 802 Floyd West Tower Atlanta, GA 30334