• According to SB202 (see pages 38-39), when you are applying for an absentee ballot, you must provide your name, date of birth, address where you are registered to vote, address where you want the ballot to be mailed, and the number of your Georgia Driver’s License or your Georgia State ID Card. These are the only two options that will be accepted on the Absentee Ballot Request Form itself. NOTE: It is fine if your Georgia Driver’s License or Georgia State ID is expired – you can still use it to apply for an Absentee Ballot!
• If you don’t have a Georgia Drivers License or a Georgia State ID Card, then you are required to physically submit one piece of identification with your absentee ballot application. You need to send in a copy. Never send originals.
• You can submit one of the following, which is an ID that has your photograph: (“valid” means not expired)
  • Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free ID Card issued by your County Elections Office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). An unexpired license or ID with a photo issued by another state is also acceptable.
  • A Georgia Driver’s License or Georgia State ID, even if expired. NOTE: this is the only ID on this list that CAN be expired.
  • 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 entity of Georgia
  • Valid U.S. passport
  • Valid U.S. military photo ID
  • Valid tribal photo ID
    –OR–
  • You can submit one of the following, which is a document that shows your name and address (NOTE: these must be 60 days old or less):
    • Current utility bill
    • Bank statement
    • Government check
    • Paycheck
    • Other government document
    • You are NOT required to submit both a photo ID document and a name/address document. You are only required to submit ONE.
  • Also be aware: When you go to send in your actual absentee ballot to vote, you will again need to provide your name, date of birth, and number of your Georgia Driver’s License or your Georgia State ID Card.
  • If you do not have a Georgia Driver’s License or a Georgia State ID Card, then you must provide the last four (4) digits of your Social Security Number.
  • If you also do not have a Social Security Number, then you will need to submit a copy of ONE of the forms of ID from the lists above. We are mentioning this to you now so if this is the situation you are in, you can go ahead and make additional photocopies of your documents now, because you will also need them when you go to submit your actual absentee ballot. For full details on submitting your actual absentee ballot, check out our article.

• REGISTER TO VOTE
  • Online at: bit.ly/OVRFWHC, registertovote.sos.ga.gov,
  • In-person at your local election office or by mail via printed or physical application.
    
    

• SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT
  • Online, by email, by mail, by fax, or in person.
  • It may be requested any time between 78 and 11 calendar days prior to Election Day.
  • Form will need to be printed, filled out, and scanned for an online/email application, or you can request one at your local registrar’s office.
    
    
• RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT
  • You will receive your ballot at the postal address you noted on your application.
  • If you’re a UOCAVA voter, you may receive it by electronic transmission.
    
    
• FILL IT OUT, SIGN IT & MAIL IT OR DROP IT OFF
  • You will receive all the forms and envelopes necessary for marking and return of the ballot. Double check before sending it off– any missing info could cause your vote not to be counted.
  • You can mail your ballot, or drop it off at a drop-off location in your county (locations found at your County Registrar’s website).
    
    
• VERIFY THAT IT WAS ACCEPTED
  • Visit the GA My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/
  • Log in and look for the section labeled “Absentee Ballot Request Information” to learn more about your absentee ballot status.
    
    
• SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:
  • If you do not receive your absentee ballot after submitting your application, contact your county registrar to assess your options. If there is not enough time to receive a new absentee ballot, or if for any reason you cannot have another sent to you, you may vote in person. If you choose to vote in person because you never received a requested absentee ballot, you will have to sign a document attesting that you are only voting once.
  • Once you return your absentee ballot, and it has been accepted, you have voted!

HOW TO COMPLETE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION

HOW TO FILL OUT AND SUBMIT AN ABSENTEE BALLOT

• DROP BOXES
  • Drop boxes are only available during the Early Voting period. If Early Voting is not currently happening, drop boxes are not available for you to use.
  • They are ONLY available at early voting locations.
  • However, not ALL early voting locations will have a drop box, because counties are limited on how many drop boxes they are allowed to have in the entire county.
  • They must now be located inside government offices, which means you cannot drive up to the box any longer. You must get out of your car and physically go inside the building where the drop box is located.
  • The drop boxes are only available during the hours and days that Early Voting is happening, which means no more 24/7 availability. If you used to drop your absentee ballot in the drop box on weekends, late at night, or very early in the morning, you will need to plan differently now.
  • Due to SB202, counties are now limited on how many drop boxes they are allowed to have, which is based upon a per-voter formula. That means that some counties have seen a reduction in the number of drop boxes they can now legally have compared to past elections. However, the great news is that every county in Georgia now has at least one drop box!
  • https://faq.georgiavoter.guide/en/article/absentee-ballot-drop-boxes

• COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE
  • Be sure to check the hours of operation first. You can find the contact information for your County Elections Office here.