GEORGIA
Election Information
Upcoming Elections
2008 General Primary Election: 7/15/08
2008 Primary Runoff: 8/5/08
2008 Special Election: 9/16/08
2008 General Election: 11/4/08
Voter Registration Information
The Lawyers’ Committee and its pro bono law firm partners have compiled comprehensive third-party voter registration guides for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These guides will help volunteers, organizers, and leaders navigate the complex rules that govern voter registration in each state.
Registration Deadlines
29 days before an election
Specific Deadlines:
- 2008 General Primary Election: 6/16/08
- 2008 Primary Runoff: 6/16/08
- 2008 Special Election: 8/18/08
- 2008 General Election: 10/6/08
Where to Obtain Registration Forms
- Register Online Now
- Download registration form
- Department of Motor Vehicles
- University or other school (public)
- Local elections office
- Public library
- Public assistance office
- Recruitment office
Absentee Voting
Absentee Voting is allowed if the voter is:
- No reason is required when requesting an absentee ballot by mail
- Going to be out of the county on Election Day
- A member of the Armed Forces or a spouse or dependent of a member of the Armed forces
- A U.S. citizen living overseas who will be at least 18 years of age before the next General Election and whose last residence prior to going overseas was in GA.
Rules and Deadlines
- Absentee ballots can be found with the county board of registrars’ office, absentee ballots are issued on the day before or the day of an election.
- Ballots must be returned to the absentee ballot clerk by mail or in person.
- Ballot must be received by the county board of registrars’ office by 7 pm on Election Day.
Early Voting
Yes, for all registered voters the week before the election at an advance voting office.
Identification Requirements
At registration:
- Current and valid photo identification or
- A current utility bill,
- Bank statement,
- Government check,
- Paycheck
- Other government document that shows the name and address of the elector
At polls:
- Georgia driver’s license, even if expired;
- Valid ID card issued by the state of Georgia or the federal government;
- Free voter ID card issued by the state or country;
- U.S. passport;
- Valid employee ID card containing a photograph, issued by any brand, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government, Georgia or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of the state; or
- Valid U.S. military identification card.
For more information on acceptable photo identification, see Georgia Voter Identification Requirements
How to check registration
Contact your local County Board of Registrars’ Office
How to find polling places
Check voter registration card
Information for felons
Voter is eligible to register upon completion of the sentence, including probation or parole.
For more information, go to the Secretary of State’s website.
Learn about Third Party Voter Registration in Georgia.
In The Courts
Common Cause v. Billups
Legislation
Georgia Senate Bill 84
Recent News
September 28, 2006: Defendants in Lake v. Purdue, the photo ID case in Georgia state court, filed a motion to stay Common Cause v. Billups, the federal case until a decision is reached by the Georgia Supreme Court.
Read the Order to Stay Preceedings here.
September 19, 2006: Today, Judge Bedford of Fulton County Superior Court permanently enjoined enforcement of Georgia’s law requiring photo ID for voting. His decision in Lake v. Perdue deemed the law unconstitutional.
Read the order here.
Atlanta Journal Constitution, Voter ID law loses another round
September 14, 2006: A federal judge has again blocked the state of Georgia from enforcing its voter photo ID law for special elections next week. The law, which went in to effect on July 1, was also blocked for the July primaries and August special elections. The Lawyers’ Committee and the ACLU have been litigating the Georgia ID case.
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Judge Blocks voter ID law, but only for special elections
July 12, 2006: The Lawyers’ Committee applauds Judge Harold Murphy of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia for once again protecting the fundamental rights of all eligible Georgians to participate in the electoral process. Yesterday, Judge Murphy ruled that Georgia cannot implement its recently enacted, discriminatory voter photo identification provision because it violates the constitutional guarantees to equal protection at the polls. The Lawyers’ Committee, together with the ACLU and other allies, brought the case on behalf of eligible Georgia voters who will be disenfranchised by this provision. Earlier in the day, the Georgia Supreme Court denied the state’s request to overrule a state court decision blocking the bill. All told, this provision has been examined by five courts, state and federal, trial and appellate, and the results have been unanimous: requiring government issued photo ID at the polls is an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote. Jon Greenbaum, Director of the Lawyers’ Committee’s Voting Rights Project, discussed the case on NPR.
NPR, States Move To Enact Voter Identification Laws
Washington Post, Ga. Judge Blocks Voter ID Law Enforcement
September 25, 2005: A consortium of voting rights advocates and private attorneys filed suit today in federal district court in Rome, Georgia, challenging Georgia House Bill 244, charging the law violates the state and federal constitutions, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The measure being challenged, which was signed into law by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue in April of 2005, reduces the various forms of identification that voters can use from 17 to six, and makes government issued photo identification absolutely required in order to vote. The lawsuit was filed against state and local election officials and asks the federal court to declare H.B. 244 "unconstitutional, null and void" and issue both a preliminary and permanent injunction against implementation of the law.
Read the injunction here.