Election Day 2021 In Atlanta: When, Where To Vote

ATLANTA — Nov. 2 is here for Atlanta voters, and residents who haven't already gone to early voting locations or submitted their absentee ballots via mail, can still go to the polls or deliver absentee ballots to drop boxes or at voting polls.

Up for grabs are nine Atlanta School Board seats, 10 Municipal judgeships, 15 City Council seats, the City Council President chair, and the job of Atlanta Mayor for which the sitting head of City Hall, Keisha Lance Bottoms, won't be seeking re-election.

While the Atlanta mayoral race includes 14 candidates, the latest and final poll conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and University of Georgia's School of Public & International Affairs and released late last week shows current City Council President Felicia Moore and former mayor Kasim Reed in a statistical tie with City Councilmember Andre Dickens in second place more than 14 percentage points behind.

See also:

• Mayoral, City Council Candidates Scored Ahead Of Elections
• Candidate Profiles: What City Hall Candidates Want You To Know

If no candidate in any race reaches 50 percent plus one vote, a general run-off election will be held on Nov. 30 between the top two candidates in each race moved to the run-off.

Here's some information to help you prepare for Election Day in Atlanta.

Dates

• November 2, 2021: November General Municipal and Special Election
• November 19, 2021: Last day to submit absentee ballot application for the November General Municipal and Special Election Runoff

Election Day

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day in Atlanta, Nov. 2. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you are allowed to cast your ballot.

On Election Day, you must vote at your designated polling place. You can find your assigned polling location on your voter registration card, by logging into the Secretary of State's My Voter Page, or by contacting your County Board of Registrar's Office.

When you get to your polling place, show your photo ID to the poll worker. A poll worker will check your photo ID, verify that you are registered and at the correct polling location, issue you a voter access card or ballot, whichever is applicable, and allow you to vote. Learn how to vote at polling places in Georgia.

On Election Day, voters must vote at their designated precinct. Because Atlanta comprises Fulton and DeKalb counties there are two lists for polling 2021 polling places:

• 2021 Election Day Precinct List for Fulton County residents
• 2021 Election Day Precinct List for DeKalb County residents

Absentee Ballots

All absentee ballots for City of Atlanta voting must be received by the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Residents can return their absentee ballot by mail or in one of the Fulton County Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes. Absentee ballots are no longer available as the last day to request them was Oct. 22.

Absentee voting will be different this year with Georgia’s new voting law. Last year, the State Election Board allowed local election offices to set up secure absentee drop boxes as long as there was around-the-clock video surveillance. But starting this year, drop boxes must be located inside the county's election office or early voting locations.

ID Requirements

To vote in person or apply for an absentee ballot, you will need to show ID. There are six acceptable forms of photo ID:

• Georgia Driver's License, even if expired
• Valid ID issued by any state or the Federal Government
• Valid employee ID issued by the Federal Government, the State of Georgia, or a county, city, or other government entity of Georgia
• Valid US passport
• Valid US military ID
• Valid tribal ID

If you are applying for an absentee ballot or you are a first-time registrant by mail who has not already provided a photo ID, there are five more forms of ID you can use:

• Current utility bill
• Bank statement
• Government check
• Paycheck
• Other government document

If you do not have an acceptable photo ID, you can get one free of charge from the Department of Driver Services or 4380 Memorial Drive. You must provide:

• A photo identity document or approved non-photo identity document that includes your full legal name
• Documentation showing your date of birth
• Evidence that you are a registered voter
• Documentation showing your name and residential address

For more information about Georgia's ID requirements, visit the Secretary of State's page.