IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VOTERS AND ACTIVISTS:
Georgia's Standings Nationally:
To see how Georgia ranks in voting turnout compared to other states, click here to view the PDF from Fair Vote
Advance voting:
Georgia now offers advance voting to any registered voter for one week prior to the election. With advance voting you may choose to vote in person before Election Day simply as a matter of convenience. Advance voting allows any registered voter to cast a ballot IN PERSON at the county voter registration office during normal business hours on the Monday through Friday of the week prior to an election. Advance voting locations in your area may be found on the Georgia Secretary of State's website. Or see the sidebar of this page for locations in Metro Atlanta.
Find your polling place:
To find your polling place go to: www.sos.state.ga.us/elections
or call the Georgia Secretary of State's office: 404-656-2871
Report Voting Problems:
If you feel your voting rights have been violated, call the
Election Protection Legal Hotline (toll free):
1-866-OUR-VOTE
Know your rights:
You have the right to vote— it’s the law. The letters and numbers after each of your rights listed below tell lawyers and poll-workers where to find the actual Georgia statute that protects your right to vote.
Georgia Voters’ Bill of Rights
1. On Election Day, each polling place opens at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 7:00 p.m. If you are in line at the polling place when the polls close at 7:00 p.m., YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE in the election. Ga. Code Ann. § 21-2-403, 413(g) (2002). The polls are open until 8:00 p.m. in Atlanta Id. § 21-2-403.
2. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE IDENTIFICATION with you on Election Day. If you do not have any form of identification, you must sign a form under oath swearing or affirming that you are the person identified on your voter certificate. Id. § 21-2-418
3. If you are a first time voter who registered by mail and you do not have identification and you did not include a copy of your identification with your application, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE BY PROVISIONAL BALLOT. Id. § 21-2-417(b)
4.If you cannot read English, or you are blind or disabled, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE from anyone you choose except your employer, your employer’s agent or an officer or representative of your union. Id. § 21-2-409(b)(1). This provision only applies if a federal candidate is on the ballot.
5. Between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Election Day, IF YOU ARE 75 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER OR YOU ARE DISABLED AND REQUIRE ASSISTANCE IN VOTING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE without waiting in line. Id. § 21-2-409.1
6. If you move to a different county or municipality after the fifth Monday prior to Election Day, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN YOUR OLD PRECINCT. Id. § 21-2-218(e)
7. If you make a mistake or “spoil” your ballot and have not cast the ballot, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT BALLOT after returning the spoiled ballot to a poll officer. Id. § 21-2-433(b)
8. NO PERSON MAY ELECTIONEER, TRY TO INFLUENCE YOUR VOTE, ASK YOU TO SIGN A PETITION OR SOLICIT YOU IN ANY WAY when you are standing in line within 25 feet of a polling place. Id. § 21-2-414
9. If you have been convicted of a crime, but have completed your sentence, including any period of probation or parole, and have registered to vote since that time, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. Id. § 21-2-216(b)
10. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to bring your child under the age of 18 into the voting booth as long as they are not disruptive or interfere with the voting process, or operate the voting machine. Id. § 21-2-413(f)
11. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE DURING THE WORK DAY, unless you begin work after 9:00 a.m. or end work at 5:00 p.m. (or 6:00 p.m. in Atlanta). Id. § 21-2-404
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE THIS BILL OF RIGHTS INTO THE VOTING BOOTH WITH YOU.
Download and print a copy of the important information on this page here.
|
