A voter submits a ballot in an official drop box during early voting in Athens, Georgia, on Oct. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
This story was updated on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 8:31 a.m.
Monday marks a significant day for Georgia absentee voters.
In ordinance with state law, all registered voters may now request a vote-by-mail ballot ahead of November’s upcoming presidential election.
Voters will have to wait a while as the state won’t begin mailing out ballots until Oct. 7. This stems from a 2021 Georgia voting law that prevents absentee ballots from being sent out until 29 days before an election.
To request an absentee ballot, Georgia voters must complete an absentee ballot application and provide address, date of birth, the county where registered and either the driver’s license or state ID number, the last four digits of the social security number or a photo of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document.
All absentee ballot requests must be made at least 11 days before the election. If that deadline is missed, people can still voter in person during early voting or on Election Day.
Who’s on the ballot?
Starting with the presidential race, former President Donald Trump will serve as the Republican Party’s nominee alongside his vice presidential nominee, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance. Vance is scheduled to appear in Valdosta, Georgia on Thursday for a campaign event.
Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the Democratic Party’s nomination of her for president at the party’s national convention, which begins Monday in Chicago. Harris’ running mate is former U.S. House Rep. and current Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
The vice president and former prosecutor’s presidential campaign began last month after President Joe Biden announced his decision to forego running for a second term amid criticism of his age and ability to beat Trump.
The Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee Chase Oliver secured his spot earlier this year, putting the Atlanta resident on the ballot in Georgia and across the country.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, speaks at a campaign event in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)
This year, Senate Bill 189, a new law from Georgia Republicans passed in March, has also had an impact on who will appear on state ballots. The law adds an option for presidential candidates to appear on the ballot in Georgia. Candidates may either get 7,500 signatures on a petition in support of their candidacy, or be listed on the presidential ballot in 20 other U.S. states or territories to be eligible to appear on Georgia’s ballot.
Three third-party presidential candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz, have all collected over the 7,500 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot in Georgia, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Green Party nominee Jill Stein is trying to qualify in Georgia via the 20-state route.
However, the candidates are currently embroiled in a legal battle with Georgia Democrats, who are trying to keep them off the ballot in case they take away potential votes for Harris. Hearings are being held this week on the matter, and an administrative law judge will make a recommendation to Raffensperger, who will issue a final ruling.
There will also be many other federal and local races on the ballot. All 14 U.S. House seats are up for reelection, as are every seat in the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate. Several judgeships will be decided, including four spots on the Georgia Supreme Court. And cities and counties across Georgia will have a number of their own local races for voters to decide on.
How to Vote
To be eligible for counting, absentee ballots must be received by mail or drop box by the time the polls close on Election Day.
According to 2021 state law, Georgia absentee ballot drop boxes are only allowed inside early voting locations, which are available only during in-person voting hours and are required to be monitored by an election official.
Early voting locations operate on weekdays typically from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on the second and third Saturday before Election Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Voters can check Georgia’s My Voter Page to verify their registration information and designated polling places and view a sample ballot.
To stay updated on the latest in election coverage, visit WABE’s 2024 Georgia Election Hub for more breaking information.
It’s a critical election year, and Georgia is at the center of it. Stay in the know with WABE’s 2024 Georgia Elections page, where you can find WABE’s latest election news and podcast episodes, important dates, voting locations, candidate info, results and more.
