As the political landscape becomes progressively prominent and deadlines approach to exercise our right to vote, obtaining all the knowledge to do so correctly becomes increasingly important.
The first step in securing your vote is registering. In Georgia, the deadline to register to vote this year in the November election is Oct. 7, and you can do so with a valid Georgia driver’s license here>>. It is important to note that voting requirements differ for each U.S. state and territory. If you plan on voting out of Georgia, those state-specific deadlines, registration information, and extra voting details can be found on Vote.gov when entering the state or territory in which you plan to register.
Once you have verified your registration, the next step is to understand and plan your voting method. There are three ways to vote this November: on election day at your designated polling location, early voting in person, or requesting and mailing in an absentee ballot.
To prepare to vote on election day at your polling place, you can verify your location by signing in on the GA My Voter Page. Then, on Nov. 5, with a valid photo ID, you can cast your vote at your specified location from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..
Early voting is available in select locations across the state in person. Signing in to GA My Voter Page and selecting “Early Voting Polling Locations” will allow you to view where you can vote early with a valid photo ID.
Absentee voting allows you to cast a ballot without having to physically vote at your specified location. Georgia voters can apply and submit an online application or download a blank application at Voter Registration (ga.gov). Once approved, your county registrar will mail all of the required documents and forms for you to cast your vote, in which you return your ballot through U.S. first-class mail.
The Georgia Secretary of State Election Division website offers a more detailed guide with frequently asked questions that can be accessed here>>.
