Am I Eligible?
There are certain requirements that students must meet in order to vote in the state of Georgia.
- Eligibility Requirements
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To be eligible to vote, you must meet the following requirements:
- citizen of the U.S. and a legal resident of GA
- be at least 18 before the date of the specified election, though you can register at 17 and a half if you will be 18 by election day
- not be mentally incompetent according to an official court
- not serving a sentence for a felony
- be able to show a valid form of photo ID, which can be any one of the following: employee photo ID from an entity of the local, state, or federal government, Voter ID card, Georgia Driver's License (even if expired), U.S. Passport, military photo ID, tribal photo ID, a Student ID, or a Voter ID card, which can be obtained free of charge at Department of Driver Services (DDS)
The Georgia Secretary of State's voter page allows you to check if you are registered to vote in a certain county.
Anyone who meets eligibility requirements can register to vote in Georgia if they are at least 17 1⁄2 years old. The GA voter registration page can also be used to update your address if you are already registered in Georgia. If you are an OOS student, be sure to follow the guide provided in the second link, as registration for those students must be completed by mail.
I'm already registered...now what?
Voting via Absentee Ballot
Absentee ballots are a great option for any student who cannot vote in person at their designated polling place on Election Day. You can vote from the convenience of your home and avoid lines at your polling station.
- How does it work?
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- Both in-state and out-of-state students may want to consider voting by absentee depending on the circumstances. It is not restricted to out-of-state students.
- The state of Georgia now allows anyone with a driver's license to request an absentee ballot online
- You can also submit an absentee request form, which can be submitted in person, by email in certain counties, or by mail.
- Once your election office processes your application, you will receive a ballot in the mail which must be returned no later than the close of polls on Election Day.
- Voters may also choose to drop off their absentee ballots in their local absentee ballot drop box. In this case, voters need not affix any postage to the absentee ballot. Check your county's official elections website to find the locations of your county's absentee ballot drop boxes. Click here to find your county's election website.
- You can check the status of your absentee ballot request on the Georgia My Voter Page
- You can still early vote in person if you have requested an absentee ballot but it has not arrived yet. Let a poll worker know at your polling station. You will have to sign an affidavit, and then you can vote
- View absentee voting commonly asked questions here.
Early or Advanced Voting
Early voting allows you to vote in-person within a range of dates before the actual general election date.
- How does it work?
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- Early voting is a good option for students who are able to be present in their county on one of the early voting dates, but may not be able to vote on election day. Georgia does not require an excuse to early vote, so early voting can be a good option for students even if they could be available to vote on election day if students want to avoid long lines.
- You can find your early voting location and days/times your polling place are open here.
Voting on Election Day
On election day you can vote at your designated polling place from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- How does it work?
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- Vote In-Person on Election Day at your assigned polling place
- Section 4.1.3 of Georgia Board of Regents Policy requires that universities give students an excused absence to vote in local, state, or federal elections if a student's course schedule would prevent them from voting. If you need to miss class to vote, email you professors ahead of Election Day to request an excused absence.
- Ensure you have a plan for voting on Election Day and you have read the election day checklist
- Individuals can receive assistance while voting. See the full list of accommodations here
Something Went Wrong...
If you feel your voting rights have been violated, do not wait! Call the Election Protection hotline at (866) 687-8683.
Check your polling place at Georgia My Voter Page. You can also check here for precincts close to Georgia Tech's campus. Also, make sure to check your eligibility at the top of the page.