Voter Protection

If your voting plan is to vote by absentee ballot, log in to https://securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.gov/as soon as you can to request it. According to Georgia.gov/vote-absentee-ballot, if you request an absentee ballot by mail, you must send a request before October 25, 2024. Ordering your ballot ASAP will hopefully help you avoid USPS delays.

 

After the Elections Office has received, reviewed, and verified your Absentee Ballot Application, an Absentee Ballot will be mailed to your address between 22-29 days prior to the primary or election, or as soon as ballots are available prior to a runoff.

Once you have received your absentee ballot, complete it and return it as soon as possible. Because of how late ballots will be sent to voters, you should plan to return your absentee ballot in person if you are able. All absentee ballots must be received by your county Elections Office by 7:00 PM on Election Day Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Absentee ballots must be received by your county Elections Office by 7:00pm on Election Day: Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

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YOU CAN RETURN YOUR BALLOT ONE OF THREE WAYS:

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• Return to a ballot dropbox: You can bring your ballot to a dropbox in your county between now and November 1. Dropboxes will NOT be available on Election Day or anytime after November 1. Contact your county Elections Office to find your nearest drop box locations.

 

• Drop off in person: You can bring your ballot directly to your county Elections Office by 7:00pm on Election Day, November 5. On Election Day, you must return your absentee ballot to your elections office and cannot bring it to a voting location.

 

• Mail: If you or a legally authorized representative (see below) are unable to drop your ballot off in person, you can mail your ballot back to your county Elections Office. If choosing this option, mail your ballot as soon as you receive it. All absentee ballots must be RECEIVED by the Elections Office by 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 5.

NOTE: For voters who are unable to return their ballot in person, they may receive assistance returning their ballot from anyone with the following relationship:

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• Any voter can receive assistance from a: member of the household, mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law.

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• Disabled voters can receive assistance from a: Caregiver and all of the above.

 

Absentee Voting FAQs

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If a voter has physical disability or is unable to read English, can they receive assistance to complete their ballot?

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Yes, voters who are physically disabled or unable to read English may receive assistance to complete and return their ballot. If the voter received assistance marking the ballot, the assistant must sign the back of the envelope, too. If the voter cannot sign the envelope due to physical disability, the voter should make a mark in the signature field.

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Voters who are physically disabled or unable to read English can be assisted in filling out their ballot by anyone except for the following categories of people: an employer, a labor union official, a candidate on the ballot, or the family member of a candidate on the ballot.

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If a voter has physical disability, can they receive assistance returning their ballot?

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Yes. Physically disabled voters can have their ballot returned by any of the following: caregiver, member of the household, mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law.

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Can I still vote in person if I applied for an absentee ballot?

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Yes, you can. So long as the county elections office has not received and accepted your absentee ballot, you can change your mind and choose to vote in person. If you have your absentee ballot in your possession, take it with you to the polls and give it to the poll worker. The poll worker will dispose of your old ballot and let you vote at the polling place. If you do not have your absentee ballot in your possession (for example, you have not received it yet, or you’ve misplaced it), that’s okay too. Simply tell the poll worker you applied for one, but that you’d like to vote in person instead. The poll worker will ask you to sign a form where you swear you haven’t voted, and then you’ll be permitted to vote in person.

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