Georgia Elections 2022: All You Need to Know!

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GEORGIA VOTER INFORMATION BASICS 2022

Voting for the upcoming General Election (November 8, 2022) is quite simple. If you’re a registered voter, you can log onto the My-Voter-Page to find out information to help you cast a ballot. Use your MVP login to check your voter registration status, get an absentee (mail-in) ballot, find polling locations and view sample ballots.

For specific links, check out the information below.

How do I register to vote and/or check to see if I’m still on Georgia rolls?

To register you must be a citizen, a legal resident of Georgia. You must be at least 17 ½ at the time of registration and at least 18 by the time you vote. The last day to register to vote in the November election is October 11, 2022.

To register by mail, you may download the Voting Application, fill it in and mail it back to your county elections office.

Application – https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/GA_VR_APP_2019.pdf

To register online, you must have a valid drivers’ license or a state issued ID.

Online Application – https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov/GAOLVR/beginRegistration.do

If you haven’t voted in a while or contacted the secretary of state’s office, Georgia law allows election officials to move your registration to an inactive status. That means they’ll purge you from the voter rolls. If you have been taken off the rolls, all you’ll need to do is re-register. Check your registration status here. https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

2022 Election Dates

Key dates to keep in mind for the upcoming election.

October 11th – is the last day to register to vote in order to be eligible to participate in the November election.

October 17th – Early voting begins

August 22nd – October 28th – Days to submit absentee ballot applications for the November election

November 8th – General Election

To see the entire 2022 Georgia Elections Calendar, click here.

https://www.sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/2022%20State%20Scheduled%20Elections%20Short%20Calendar.pdf

Where do I go to vote?

Polling locations can change from the Early Voting period to Election Day. They can even change from one day to the next. It’s important that you check with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office before you go vote to make sure you’re eligible to vote at that precinct.

To find your eligible precinct(s) – https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

Voter identification – IN PERSON

Voters who show up at the polls, will need to bring a valid photo ID, such as a drivers license or passport.

Bring one of the following 7 forms of ID when you vote in-person.

Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID Card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)

A Georgia Driver’s License, even if expired

Student ID from a Georgia public College or University

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 this state

Valid U.S. passport ID

Valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter

Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph if the voter

Voter Identification – Mail-n and Absentee Voting

When you request an absentee ballot, you must include your drivers license number. If you do not have one, you can use a state-issued ID or get a free ID from any Department of Drivers Services or you county elections office. Below are types of identification you’ll need for absentee voting.

United States Passport

Georgia Voter identification card

Other valid photo identification card issued by a branch, department, agency, or entity of the State of Georgia, any other state, or the United States authorized by law to issue personal identification

United States military identification card provided that such identification card contains a photograph of the voter

Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States government, Georgia state government, or Georgia county, municipality, board, authority, or any other entity of the state of Georgia provided that such employee identification card contains a photograph of the voter

Tribal identification card, provided that such identification card contains a photograph of the voter

Student ID from a Georgia public College or University

Or any of the following documents that show your name and address

Current utility bill

Bank statement

Paycheck

Government-issued check

Other government document

Get a free photo ID for voting

The state offers free Voter ID cards that can be issued at any county elections officer or any Georgia Department of Driver Services.

Contact your county registrar’s office for more information. https://elections.sos.ga.gov/Elections/countyregistrars.do

Provisional Ballot Voting

Provisional voting allows voters to use a paper ballot to solve various issues at the polls. Reasons for using a provisional ballot include not having proper ID, or a voter name no appearing on the voter rolls. If a voter uses a provisional ballot, they have 3 days to go to their county registrar’s office and present acceptable identification.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent changes, provisional ballots can not be used anymore if the voter finds themselves at the wrong place UNLESS it’s after 5 pm on election day. You can check your provisional ballot status using this link. https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

Sample Ballots

Sample ballots give you a snapshopt of the actual ballot including the list fo candidates and ballot measures. Go to the Georgia MY voter webpage and log in to see the sample ballot for your county.

Log onto the MVP here. https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

Ballot Measures

A ballot measure is a legal question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters to decide. These measures can be placed on the ballot through citizen petitions or through the state legislature. Some ballot measures do not result in legislative changes.

As of today, in Georgia there are four state-wide ballot measures which are certified to appear on the ballot. I’ve listed those four below. Check with Ballotpedia on the Georgia 2022 Ballot Measure page to see updated information. That link is here. https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_2022_ballot_measures

The current statewide measures are:

The Georgia State Legislature referred two constitutional amendments to the ballot:

an amendment to suspend pay for certain public officials if they are suspended from office for being indicted for a felony and

an amendment to allow local governments to grant temporary tax relief to certain properties that are damaged or destroyed due to a disaster.

The legislature also passed and the governor signed two measures to create or expand tax exemptions, which require voter approval according to the state constitution:

one for merged family-owned farms, with expansion to include dairy products and eggs, and

one for timber equipment.

At this time, no information is available for local ballot measures. Voters may always check with the Georgia My Voter page closer to the election day, to see a sample ballot with all measures.

Absentee Voting Info

Tired of long lines at the polls? Absentee voting could be your answer, and in Georgia, you don’t need a reason or excuse to take advantage of the process.

First, you must request an absentee ballot during the allowed time. August 22nd – October 28th – are the days to submit absentee ballot applications for the November election.

Ater the passage of Georgia’s Election Integrity Act of 2021, all absentee requests must be submitted with a valid photo ID. This is how officials confirm the validity of voters. Using an ID changes the previous process in which officials would confirm voters through a signature match process.

Your request will include your mailing address, an acceptable form of ID and tell officials which election that you wish to vote. After you submit your application, election officials will process your request and send the ballot. Due to Georgia’s latest election ballot, absentee ballots will be checked using your ID information instead of your signature.

PLEASE NOTE – All absentee ballots must be in the County Elections offices by 7 pm on Election Day.

You may return your completed ballot to an elections office, by mail or at a secure drop box location.

If for some reason, you decide to vote in person after you’ve received an absentee ballot, you should take your absentee ballot with you to the polls and give it to your precinct poll manager.

Military and overseas citizens can find out how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot by contacting the Overseas Vote Foundation. https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/vote/home.htm

Time Off to Vote

Did you know that employers must allow their employees to leave work up to two hours so they can vote?

According to Georgia law, workers have a right to visit the polls, and employers are required to allow them to do so. If a voter needs more than two hours, they should consider voting during the early voting period or absentee voting.

Below are rules if you want to take time off to vote on Election Day.

Your employer must allow up to two hours of time off to vote on an Election Day. That is unless the polls are open at least two consecutive hours before, or two consecutive hours after your shift.

This does not apply if polling hours are open two hours before or after your regular shift.

Your employer does not have to pay you for time taken off to vote.

You must give your employer a reasonable notice in advance that you plan to take time off to vote; however your supervisor can tell you which two hour period he or she will allow.