By Tammy Joyner and Jill Jordan Sieder

About a third of Georgia voters – 2.5 million – have already cast their ballots, either by mail or through in-person early voting.  That’s 20 percent more than the last midterm election in 2018.

Georgia election officials are expecting another 2 million people to vote on election day.  Here are some key things to keep in mind to make your vote count.

• Polls in Georgia will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. As long as you’re in line before 7 p.m., you can stay in line and cast your vote. 
• Your employer must grant you 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. For example, if your work shift starts at 9:00am, the law does not require your employer to give you time off to go vote.
• Verify  your correct polling site before you go on the Georgia Secretary of State My Voter Page .
•  If you arrive at the wrong precinct before 5 p.m., verify the correct location and go there. If it’s after 5 p,m., ask for and cast a provisional ballot before the polling place closes (at 7 p.m. in most locations). Track your ballot here.
•  There are just over 53,000 absentee ballots outstanding, if yours is one of them, drop it off at your precinct tomorrow.
• If you’ve been convicted of a felony, but you have completed your sentence (including incarceration, probation, parole, and any period on non-report status) – your right to vote has been restored. 
•  You will need to show some form of identification. Acceptable forms of ID include:

–State or federal government-issued photo ID, including free ID card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).

–Georgia driver’s license.

–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 in Georgia

–Valid U.S. passport

–Valid military photo ID, containing a photo of the voter

–Student photo ID issued by a Georgia public college, university or technical school

–Valid tribal photo ID

• In the event that no candidate in a race receives more than 50 percent of the vote, forcing a runoff election, if you are not registered in time to vote for the general election, you can register to vote in the Dec. 6 runoff election. You must register to vote by today, Nov. 7.
• If you have questions, concerns or problems trying to vote, call  1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)
  

Not sure who or what’s on the ballot?

If you want to know who’s running, we’ve got you covered. Check out our five-part series on down-ballot races and take a look at our profile of Georgia’s two U.S. Senate candidates.

To see a sample ballot including  the candidates and referendum items in your district, check here.

Join the Conversation

What else do you want to know about voting or elections in Georgia? Share your thoughts/tips by emailing [email protected]  or on Twitter @LVJOYNER or [email protected] or on Twitter @JOURNALISTAJILL

When you head to the polls or anytime, take State Affairs with you. Check out our playlist of Georgia music by Georgia artists.

Header credit: (Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon & Brittney Phan)

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