The Gist
Georgia has one of the highest voter registration rates in the nation. Some 95% of its citizens over the age of 18 are registered to vote, according to federal election data released last year. So … pay close attention if you are among that 5% who haven’t yet registered.

What’s Happening
If you haven't registered to vote, now's your chance.
Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day. Nearly 4.7 million Americans have registered to vote on this day since it was first observed in 2012. So why not exercise your civic duty and register to vote? In fact, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has declared September National Voter Registration Month.
Why It Matters
The November 8th Midterm election is less than two months away. The midterms are held during the second year of a president’s four-year term in office — the middle of the presidential term. Hence, the name “midterm election”. While the president is elected every four years, members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years and members of the Senate are elected every six years.
Many states - including Georgia - hold state and local elections during midterms, so it’s important to cast your vote for leaders and ballot measures that affect your community.
This year, all 50 states will elect members to the U.S. House of Representatives. Georgia and 35 other states will elect governors, and 34 states - Georgia included - will elect U.S. Senators.
That said, here are some important dates to keep in mind here in Georgia:
Registration deadlines
By mail, online and in-person at local election office: Oct. 11
Absentee ballot deadlines
Request absentee ballot now until: Oct. 28
Return ballot by mail or in person: Nov. 8
Voting deadlines
Early voting: Check your local election office
In person: Nov. 8
What’s Next?
If you don’t vote, you don’t get a say in who runs your state or county or who represents you in Congress. 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.
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.
Header photo credit: gogostevie and Brittney Phan
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