GA General Election 2024: What To Know About Early, Absentee Voting

GEORGIA — Early voting in the general election may be three weeks away, but absentee ballot requests are now being accepted until Oct. 25.

In the election, Georgia voters will decide the next president among other key roles.

Early voters can cast ballots Monday-Friday and on the second and third Saturdays before Election Day, which is set for Nov. 5. In-person early voting starts Oct. 15.

Some polling places will also be open on the second and third Sundays, but election officials say voters should verify specific dates and polling hours with their early voting precincts.

Mandatory Saturday voting will be held on Oct. 19 and Oct. 26, while optional Sunday voting dates are Oct. 20 and Oct. 27.

Generally, polling places are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. during the week and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays during early voting.

Early voting ends Nov. 1. The last day to register to vote in Georgia is Oct. 7, and the final day for registration in a possible December federal runoff is Nov. 4. A potential federal runoff will be held on Dec. 3.

Absentee ballots are mailed to voters and need to be returned to the designated county election office before polls close on Election Day to be counted.

Voters have several options to request absentee ballots and for returning the completed ballots, including hand-delivery or drop-off.

On Election Day, polling places will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. According to the Secretary of State's office, as long as people are in line by 7 p.m., they will be allowed to vote.

Voters should go to the My Voter Page to determine their eligibility to vote and to locate their polling place and early voting location. Voters can also confirm their current addresses and view sample ballots.

Georgia's law requires photo ID while voting — either in-person or absentee.

The following identifications are accepted for voting, according to the Secretary of State's office:

• Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID issued by your county registrar's office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services
• A Georgia driver's license, even if expired
• Student ID from a Georgia public college or university
• 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

More information on voting ID requirements, including for absentee ballots, can be found here.

Below are two key races in the 2024 Georgia general election:

• Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, is vying to keep former President Donald Trump, a Republican, from starting a second presidential term as the two face each other for the first time.
• Courtney Kramer, a Republican, challenges incumbent Fani Willis, a Democrat, for Fulton County district attorney.

Read more information on voting in Georgia here.