Georgia Voter Guide

This guide is available in other languages: إنجليزي · Español · अंग्रेज़ी · 한국인 · 普通话

When you cast your ballot, you will contribute to the centuries-old struggle for justice and equality in the U.S. and push forward for representation and policy that reflects your needs and interests. Through the “Our Future, Our Vote” initiative, the Southern Poverty Law Center is committed to ensuring you can do so.

This voting guide for the state of Georgia includes information on how to manage changes to state law and provides resources for more help if you need it. For information about Georgia's runoff election, please visit our Georgia runoff FAQs page.

In this Guide

• Key Dates
• Before Election Day
• Election Day
• Voting If You Have Been Impacted by the Justice System
• Know Your Rights
• In-depth Guides for Partners

Before Election Day

Who can register to vote?

Every U.S. citizen with the following qualifications is eligible to register to vote in Georgia:

• A citizen of the United States.
• A legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote.
• At least 18 years old.
• Not declared mentally incompetent by a court.
• Not currently serving a sentence for a felony.

How do I register to vote?

Register to vote by Tuesday, Oct. 11 (whether in person or by mail), for the Nov. 8 general election.

You can register in person or by mail.

• You can register to vote in person at any of the following locations:
• Your county elections and registration office
• Any state or federal agency offering government services, such as the Department of Human Services
• You can register by mail using this form
• You can also register online if you have a driver’s license or identification issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services

What about absentee voting?

In Georgia, you can cast an absentee ballot for any election, even if you will not be absent from the county on Election Day. You can request it online or by mail, and when it comes, return it by mail or in a drop box.

To request an absentee ballot, you need to complete this absentee ballot application.

If you do not have a driver’s license or state ID, you can attach a photo or copy of another form of ID. See other acceptable forms of photo ID for sending in an absentee ballot application.

You can request an absentee ballot NOW. Your request must be received by your county elections or registrar’s office by close of business on Oct. 28, 2022. (Hospital patients have an extra day to apply.) You can return your absentee ballot application to your county registrar’s office by mail, fax, e-mail (as an attachment) or in person.

Election Day

When do I vote?

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 8, 2022). Anyone standing in line at 7 p.m. has the right to stay to vote.

Where do I vote?

You can check your polling place at the My Voter Page Portal. Polling locations can change so you should verify before leaving the house.

When should I use a provisional ballot?

You have the right to cast a provisional ballot if a poll worker tells you they cannot establish your eligibility to vote (e.g., your name does not appear on their voter registration list), but you believe you registered and are eligible to vote. The poll worker should offer you the opportunity to vote by provisional ballot, but, if they do not, you have a legal right to request one. The Help America Vote Act, a federal law, guarantees all voters the right to vote by provisional ballot. Before completing your provisional ballot, be sure to verify with the poll manager that you are in the correct polling place, even if you are not listed in the poll book.

The provisional ballot will count if your eligibility can be determined within three days after Election Day by your county registrar’s office. After completing a provisional ballot, you should contact your county registrar’s office to see whether your vote was counted or if the registrar needs more information to verify your registration status.

Voting If You Have Been Impacted by the Justice System

Can I vote from jail?

Yes. Georgia voters not convicted of a felony who are in jail awaiting trial can request an absentee ballot. See information on absentee voting above.

Can I vote if I am a returning citizen?

If you are a returning citizen (i.e., person previously incarcerated) and are still completing a sentence for a felony conviction, you are not eligible to register to vote.

But if you have a felony conviction and you have completed your sentence, including any probation, parole and payment of fines owed, you are eligible to register to vote, even if you still owe restitution, fees and costs.

In addition, according to Section 208 of the federal Voting Rights Act, “Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union.” This federal law applies to all elections in all states and supersedes any state law. No proof of disability, illiteracy or limited English proficiency is required.

Specifically per Georgia state law, voters who require assistance marking the ballot or are unable to sign their name because of a disability are entitled to receive assistance from a person of the voter’s choice, excluding the voter’s employer; officer or agent of the voter’s union; anyone whose name appears on the ballot as a candidate; or a candidate’s spouse, child, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

Changes to Georgia’s voting rules might make it harder for people with disabilities to vote. This video series, created by our partners at Uniting for Change, The Arc Georgia, Sangha Unity Network, and the Georgia Advocacy Office, will help voters with disabilities get the accommodations needed to cast a ballot.

 

Can I assist other voters?

Yes, unless you are one of the following:

• the voter’s employer.
• officer or agent of the voter’s union.
• anyone whose name appears on the ballot as a candidate.
• or a candidate’s spouse, child, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law.

Are voting materials available in languages other than English?

Yes. You may access voting materials in Spanish. In addition, all voting materials must be provided in Spanish and English in Gwinnett County. “Voting materials” includes registration or voting notices, such as newspaper notices and website information; forms; instructions; assistance; or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots. If any voting materials in the above counties are not available in Spanish, please contact:

• On Election Day - The Election Protection hotlines:
• 866-OUR-VOTE (English)
• 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Spanish/ English)
• 888-API-VOTE (Asian languages/ English)
• 844-YALLA-US (Arabic/ English)

And remember, if you need assistance in voting because you have trouble reading or writing in English, you may receive assistance from a person of your choice. (See “What if I would like assistance to vote?” above.)

What if I witness or experience voter intimidation?

Voter intimidation is conduct intended to compel prospective voters to vote against their preferences, or to not vote at all, through activity that is reasonably calculated to instill fear.

Federal law expressly prohibits voter intimidation.

The following conduct near polling places is likely illegal voter intimidation:

• Violent behavior or verbal threats inside or outside the polling place.
  Confronting voters while wearing military-style or official-looking uniforms.
  displaying firearms.
• Disrupting voting lines or blocking the entrance to the polling place.
  following voters to, from, or within the polling place.
• Spreading false information about voter fraud, voting requirements, or related criminal penalties.
• Aggressively approaching voters’ vehicles or writing down voters’ license plate numbers.
• Harassing voters, including aggressively questioning them about their qualifications to vote.

What if I have further questions or experience any problems while trying to vote?

For further information on voting, visit the Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s Office.

Tell Us Your Voting Story

We want to hear what you experienced with registering, verifying or changing your information, absentee ballots, voting, or any other situation you’ve encountered while trying to participate in your local, state, or federal elections. Share your story:

Fill the Form

In-depth Guides for Partners

• Absentee Voting by Mail or Drop box (English)
• Absentee Voting by Mail or Drop box (Español)
• Early Voting in Person (English)
• Early Voting in Person (Español)
• Election Day In-Person Voting (English)
• Election Day In-Person Voting (Español)
• Absentee Voting from Jail
• Voting with a Criminal Record
• Voting with a Disability

Illustrations by Elias Stein