Prepare Now to Vote in November

There’s an election coming up. It’s kind of a big deal.

Get Registered

You have until October 9 to register to vote in the November 6 General Election. 

Already Registered? Make Sure

If you haven’t voted in a while, check if you’re registered on the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page tool or by contacting your local county voting registrar.

If key details of your registration need updating — for example, if you moved or changed your name — you also need to do so before October 9.

Moving?

If you move from one Georgia address to another within 30 days of the election, you may vote in your old precinct. Make sure to update your registration as soon as possible after moving to maintain your right to vote.

VoteSafe

If you are concerned about your address being made public on a voter list, the Georgia VoteSafe Program can help. The program, enacted in 2009, is designed for those who have been, or may be, subject to acts of family violence or stalking.

To be eligible, you must meet one of the following qualifications:

  • You have a protective order
  • You have a restraining order
  • You reside in a family violence shelter

Prepare to Vote

Think you might be busy on November 6? Plan ahead and take advantage of other opportunities to vote.

Early voting begins October 15 and ends November 2. Look up your county for the times and places you may vote early. Anyone can vote early in Georgia.

If you cannot get to a polling place, consider voting via a mail-in absentee ballot. Make sure to mail the ballot so that it reaches your county voting registrar by November 6.

What’s on the Ballot

Below is a summary of the major national and state races. 

For information on specific races, you can search by office using the Qualifying Candidate Information search tool on the Georgia Secretary of State website. 

For a detailed ballot, including local offices and specifics for your districts, use the My Voter Page tool on the Georgia Secretary of State website.

National Legislators

Neither of Georgia’s U.S. Senators are up for re-election this year, but 13 of our state’s 14 incumbent U.S. Representatives face challengers.

State Legislators

This year, Georgia voters will elect a new General Assembly, selecting the 56 senators and 180 representatives who comprise the legislative body.

State Executives

All statewide executive officers are up for election this year: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Insurance, State School Superintendent, and Commissioner of Labor. Two seats on the Public Service Commission are also contested.

State Laws

This year Georgia voters will decide on 5 amendments to the state constitution and 2 statewide referendum questions. 

These are described in detail on the Georgia Secretary of State website (PDF), but here are the summaries:

  • Amendment 1: Creates the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and parks.
  • Amendment 2: Creates a statewide business court to lower costs, enhance efficiency, and promote predictable judicial outcomes.
  • Amendment 3: Encourages the conservation, sustainability, and longevity of Georgia’s working forests through tax subclassification and grants.
  • Amendment 4: Provides rights for victims of crime in the judicial process.
  • Amendment 5: Authorizes fair allocation of sales tax proceeds to county and city school districts.
  • Referendum 1: Provides for a homestead exemption for residents of certain municipal corporations.
  • Referendum 2: Provides a tax exemption for certain homes for the mentally disabled.

Things to Remember on Election Day

  • Do not wear campaign materials — T-shirts, buttons, pins, etc. to the polling place.
  • Make sure you have an acceptable ID, which can be any of the following:
    • Georgia Driver’s License, even if expired
    • 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 government employee photo ID: federal, state, or local
    • Valid U.S. passport
    • Valid U.S. military photo ID
    • Valid tribal photo ID
  • As long as you are in line when the polls close, you may vote. Most polls in Georgia close at 7 p.m., but check your polling place to be sure.
  • Your employer must let you arrive late or leave early if you don’t have at least 2 hours of available voting time before or after your shift. You may not be paid for this time off.

You can help shape our democracy. Get out and vote!

 

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