Frequently Asked Questions

IN ORDER FOR THEM TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT, THEY MUST COMPLETE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION AND RETURN THE APPLICATION EITHER BY MAIL, FAX, EMAIL, OR IN PERSON. THEY ALSO HAVE THE OPTION TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION ONLINE: (https://securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.gov/s/ OR https://mvp.sos.ga.gov ) ADDITIONALLY, AS THE PARENT, YOU CAN REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT ON BEHALF OF A VOTER (SECTION 11 ON THE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION).

WHAT IDS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR IN-PERSON VOTING?

• ANY VALID STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO ID, INCLUDING A FREE VOTER ID CARD AND GUN PERMIT LICENSE
• A GEORGIA DRIVER'S LICENSE, EVEN IF EXPIRED
• STUDENT ID FROM A GEORGIA PUBLIC COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OR HIGH SCHOOL
• 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 OF THE VOTER

HERE’S THE LINK TO THE SOS THAT REFER TO WHAT IDS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR IN-PERSON VOTING: https://sos.ga.gov/page/georgia-voter-identification-requirements

HOW DO I VIEW MY SAMPLE BALLOT?

TO VIEW YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT, VISIT THE MVP WEBSITE: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov OR YOU MAY VISIT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS (1117 EISENHOWER DR, SUITE F.) AND HAVE THEM PRINT OUT A SAMPLE BALLOT FOR YOU. A SAMPLE BALLOT CAN ALSO BE PRINTED OUT AT THE BOARD OF ELECTION (1117 EISENHOWER DR, SUITE F.). ALSO, CONTACT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT 912-201-4375.

WHEN DO I NEED TO HAVE MY ABSENTEE BALLOT BACK?

A BALLOT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY REGISTRAR NO LATER THAN THE CLOSE OF POLLS ON ELECTION DAY, WHICH IS 7 P.M. DELIVERY OF AN ABSENTEE BALLOT CAN BE EITHER MAIL, DROPBOX, OR HAND DELIVERED TO THE COUNTY REGISTRAR’S OFFICE.

HOW CAN I RETURN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?

THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS TO RETURN YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT.

• AT ANY CHATHAM COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION DROPBOX LOCATION
• IN-PERSON ONLY AT THE MAIN OFFICE (1117 EISENHOWER DR)
• BY MAIL (PO BOX 13757 SAVANNAH, GA 31416)

WHAT IS THE TIME PERIOD TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?

YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS MUCH AS 78 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION. YOUR REQUEST MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 11 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

WHO CAN RETURN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT ON BEHALF OF A VOTER?

• THE VOTER HIMSELF OR HERSELF
• VOTER’S MOTHER, FATHER, GRANDPARENTS, SIBLINGS, SPOUSE, SON/DAUGHTER, AUNT/UNCLE, IN-LAWS (BASICALLY ANY FAMILY MEMBER BESIDES A COUSIN)
• CARETAKER OF A VOTER WITH DISABILITIES
• INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD.

HOW CAN I RETURN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION?

• IN-PERSON: 1117 EISENHOWER DR, SAVANNAH, GA 31406
• MAIL: CHATHAM COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION - PO BOX 13757 SAVANNAH, GA 31416
• FAX: 912-790-1519
• EMAIL: ABSENTEEBALLOTS@CHATHAMCOUNTY.ORG

CAN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BE PICKED UP AT THE OFFICE?

NO. ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE MAILED AND CAN NOT BE PICKED UP IN ACCORDANCE WITH CODE SECTION 21-2-381 (2A)

IF I MAKE A MISTAKE ON MY ABSENTEE BALLOT, CAN I GET A NEW ONE?

YES. OUR OFFICE CAN ISSUE A NEW BALLOT IF YOU MADE AN ERROR ON THE PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ABSENTEE BALLOT. CONTACT THE ABSENTEE BALLOT CLERK AT HER EXTENSION: 1637 OR CONTACT THE AB PROCESSING CENTER AT EXTENSION: 8474.

CAN SOMEONE ELSE REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT ON BEHALF OF A VOTER?

A FAMILY MEMBER MAY REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT ON YOUR BEHALF IF YOU ARE RESIDING TEMPORARILY OUT OF THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY, OR IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL DISABILITY. THE APPLICATION FOR YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT MAY, UPON SATISFACTORY PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP, BE MADE BY AN ADULT WHO IS YOUR MOTHER, FATHER, GRANDPARENT, AUNT, UNCLE, SISTER, BROTHER, SPOUSE, SON, DAUGHTER, NIECE, NEPHEW, GRANDCHILD, SON-IN-LAW, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, MOTHER-IN-LAW, FATHER IN- LAW, BROTHER-IN-LAW, OR SISTER-IN-LAW OF THE AGE OF 18 OR OVER. RELATIVES APPLYING FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR
YOU MUST ALSO SIGN AN OATH ON THE APPLICATION.

WHO CAN REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?

ANY VOTER REGISTERED IN GEORGIA MAY VOTE BY ABSENTEE. A VOTER DOES NOT NEED A REASON TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE. TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS:

• YOU CAN PICK UP AN APPLICATION IN PERSON,
• CALL THE MAIN OFFICE (912-790-1520) TO HAVE AN APPLICATION MAILED TO YOUR ADDRESS
• ONLINE TO EITHER: https://securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.gov/s/ OR https://mvp.sos.ga.gov

HOW DO I OBTAIN A COPY OF MY PRECINCT CARD?

THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS: IN-PERSON AT THE MAIN OFFICE: 1117 EISENHOWER DR SUITE E. OR ONLINE: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov

I MOVED RECENTLY; HOW DO I UPDATE MY ADDRESS?

YOU CAN UPDATE YOUR CURRENT VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION BY GOING TO MY VOTER PAGE: MVP.SOS.GA.GOV. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO LOG IN SO YOU CAN VIEW AND UPDATE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION. IF YOUR INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE UPDATED YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION WHERE YOU CAN UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION DIGITALLY OR YOU CAN PRINT YOUR APPLICATION AND MAIL IT OR BRING IT INTO OUR OFFICE. OTHER OPTIONS INCLUDE HAVING THE VOTER REGISTRATION MAIL YOU A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION OR COMPLETING AN APPLICATION AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.

WHAT ARE THE TYPE OF BALLOTS IN GEORGIA?

THERE ARE ONLY THREE OPTIONS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLICAN, NON-PARTISAN (WILL NOT HAVE ANY PARTY CANDIDATES LISTED). FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY (PPP) ELECTION, THERE ARE ONLY TWO TYPES OF BALLOTS, DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN.

HOW DO I CHANGE MY PARTY?

YOU DON’T DECLARE A SPECIFIC PARTY AFFILIATION AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION. HOWEVER, IN PRIMARY AND PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTIONS, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO DECLARE A PARTY PREFERENCE AT THE TIME OF VOTING (WHETHER IN PERSON OR ABSENTEE BY MAIL REQUEST) SO THAT YOU ARE GIVEN THE CORRECT BALLOT FOR THE ELECTION. FOR A RUNOFF ELECTION, YOU WILL NEED TO KEEP THE SAME PARTY IF YOU VOTED IN THE PRIMARY UNDER THAT PARTY. YOU CAN CHOOSE THE SAME OR A DIFFERENT PARTY DURING THE NEXT PRIMARY ELECTION, HOWEVER.

I WAS CONVICTED OF A FELONY OFFENSE BUT I HAVE COMPLETED ALL ELEMENTS OF MY SENTENCE (INCARCERATION, PROBATION, PAROLE, PAYMENT OF FINES, ETC.). CAN I REREGISTER TO VOTE?

IF YOU QUALIFY UNDER ONE OF THESE EXCEPTIONS, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED A “ROLLOVER VOTER” AND WILL RECEIVE BALLOTS SENT TO YOU AUTOMATICALLY FOR ELECTIONS THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IN THE SAME CALENDAR YEAR AS YOUR REQUEST. IN THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR, YOU WILL NEED TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION WITH AN EXCEPTION MARKED TO RENEW YOUR EXCEPTION FOR THAT CALENDAR YEAR.

I WAS CONVICTED OF A FELONY OFFENSE BUT I HAVE COMPLETED ALL ELEMENTS OF MY SENTENCE (INCARCERATION, PROBATION, PAROLE, PAYMENT OF FINES, ETC.). CAN I REREGISTER TO VOTE?

YES, IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED ALL ELEMENTS OF YOUR SENTENCE. VISIT MY VOTER PAGE AT https://mvp.sos.ga.gov TO RE-REGISTER ONLINE OR CONTACT US AT 912-790-1520 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

IF I REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BY MAIL BALLOT AND MARK ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS ON THE FORM (DISABLED, ELDERLY, MILITARY, OVERSEAS CIVILIAN), AND AM THEREFORE CONSIDERED TO BE ON THE "ROLLOVER LIST" DO I AUTOMATICALLY GET ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR EACH ELECTION PERMANENTLY?

YES, IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED ALL ELEMENTS OF YOUR SENTENCE. VISIT MY VOTER PAGE AT https://mvp.sos.ga.gov TO RE-REGISTER ONLINE OR CONTACT US AT 912-790-1520 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

IF I REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BY MAIL BALLOT AND MARK ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS ON THE FORM (DISABLED, ELDERLY, MILITARY, OVERSEAS CIVILIAN), DO I AUTOMATICALLY GET ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR EACH ELECTION PERMANENTLY?

IF YOU QUALIFY UNDER ONE OF THESE EXCEPTIONS, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED A “ROLLOVER VOTER” AND WILL RECEIVE BALLOTS SENT TO YOU AUTOMATICALLY FOR ELECTIONS THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IN THE SAME ELECTION YEAR AS YOUR REQUEST. IN THE NEXT ELECTION YEAR, YOU WILL NEED TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION WITH AN EXCEPTION MARKED TO RENEW YOUR EXCEPTION FOR THAT ELECTION YEAR.

I RECEIVED MY ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL AS I REQUESTED, BUT MY PLANS CHANGED AND I WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY, WHAT DO I DO?

TAKE YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT WITH YOU TO THE POLL AND THE POLL MANAGER OR POLL WORKER CAN CANCEL THAT BALLOT AND ALLOW YOU TO VOTE ON THE TOUCH SCREEN.

DO I HAVE TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR EVERY ELECTION?

NO, YOU ONLY HAVE TO REGISTER ONCE UNLESS YOUR REGISTRATION HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO A FELONY CONVICTION, INACTIVITY, ETC. CHECK https://mvp.sos.ga.gov TO CONFIRM YOUR REGISTRATION STATUS AT LEAST 40 DAYS PRIOR TO AN ELECTION.

WHO IS THE REPRESENTATIVE OR ELECTIVE OFFICIAL FOR MY AREA?

TO FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OR ELECTIVE OFFICIAL FOR YOUR AREA, VISIT THE MVP WEBSITE: MVP.SOS.GA.GOV/S/

WHAT IS THE SECRETARY OF STATE PHONE NUMBER?

THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS 404-656-2871.

Voter Registration

Mailing Address: PO Box 13757
Savannah, Georgia 31416

Hours: M – F 8 AM – 5 PM;
On Election Day 7 AM – 7 PM