Georgia
Voting Guide
Registration Deadlines and Election Dates
UPDATE: The U.S. Senate race in Georgia has moved to a runoff election, scheduled for Tuesday, December 6. See our special voting guide here.
Voter Registration Deadline: 5th Monday before Election Day
NOTE: The deadline to register to vote for state offices in a runoff election is the same as the voter registration deadline to vote in the initial election. The deadline to register to vote only for federal offices in a runoff election is 30 days before the runoff election date.
2022
Special Election and Special Runoff Election Voter Registration Deadline: February 14
Special Election: March 15
Special Election Runoff: April 12
General Primary, Nonpartisan General, and Special Election Voter Registration Deadline: April 25*
General Primary, Nonpartisan General, and Special Election: May 24
General Primary Runoff Election Voter Registration Deadline (federal offices only): May 23
General Primary, Nonpartisan General, and Special Election Runoff: June 21
General Election Day Voter Registration Deadline: October 11*
General Election Day: November 8
General Election and Special Election Runoff Voter Registration Deadline (federal offices only): November 7
General Election and Special Election Runoff: December 6
*You must be registered by this date to vote for state offices in the subsequent runoff election.
Official Election Websites
More election information at:
Online voter registration available at:
registertovote.sos.ga.gov/GAOLVR
Mail-in voter registration form available at:
https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/GA_VR_APP_2019.pdf
Register at School or Home
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family's home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Register?
Georgia’s voter registration form asks for your Georgia driver’s license or ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Georgia’s online registration form requires either your Georgia driver’s license or ID number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Vote?
All voters in Georgia must show ID at the polls prior to voting in-person early or on Election Day. Acceptable ID includes:
A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired
Any valid state or federal issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar’s office or by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)
Valid U.S. passport
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 state entity
Valid U.S. military photo ID
Valid tribal photo ID
Student ID cards: Georgia accepts student ID cards from certain public and technical institutions.
You can see if your school’s student ID is accepted at:
Where Do I Vote?
Make a plan. Check your voter registration and absentee ballot application status and look up your voting site and hours at:
How Can I Vote?
By Mail
Any Georgia voter may vote by mail. Mail-in ballot request applications can be submitted online, by mail or fax, or in person. For more information and to apply, visit:
https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-voting#Absentee%20Voting.
To request an absentee ballot, you must provide your Georgia driver’s license or identification card number. If you do not have a Georgia driver’s license or identification card, you must affirm this on the application and provide another form of identification. This identification can be a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.
Absentee ballot applications must be received by your county clerk by the 11th day before Election Day.
Completed absentee ballots must be returned to your county clerk’s office by the close of polls on Election Day.
Early In-person
Any registered voter may vote early in person between the 4th Monday before Election Day and the Friday immediately prior to Election Day.
Early voting is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during weekdays and on the second and third Saturdays before Election Day.
Counties may add Sunday early voting times with hours determined by local election officials. Find your county’s early in-person voting locations at:
https://sos.ga.gov/advanced-voting-location-information.
Election Day
Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, then you have a right to vote.
Voters with disabilities may move to the front of the line if they arrive at their polling place and notify election workers between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit:
https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities.
Common Questions/Concerns
Registering to Vote Does Not Affect Your:
Federal Financial Aid
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Status as a Dependent on Your Parents’ Taxes
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Tuition Status
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in Georgia affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a full-time student in Georgia, you may be required to make changes to your driver’s license and car registration, regardless of whether you register to vote in Georgia. For more information, you may wish to contact the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein is used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Georgia legal professional.
Last updated March 2022