Know Before You Go
Make sure you are registered to vote and your registration is up to date and active.
- Be sure to have proper identification for in-person or absentee voting.
- Mark your calendar to remember when early voting begins and ends.
- Know your voting location before you head to cast your ballot.
- Reminder! Voters can cast ballots at any advance voting location but must go to their assigned precinct in Election Day.
Get familiar with changes to Georgia’s voting law.
What to bring with you for in-person voting :
- A valid ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or voter identification card
- A mask to help ensure your safety and the safety of the poll workers and voters around you
- Your absentee ballot if you are wanting to vote in-person instead. If you do not have your absentee ballot, you will need to sign an affidavit stating that you are instead casting your ballot in-person.
Still have a question? Contact us today!
| EMAIL: | voterreg@dekalbcountyga.gov |
| PHONE: | (404) 298-4020 |
| FAX: | (404) 298-4038 |
| OFFICE: | Voter Registration & Elections 4380 Memorial Dr, Suite 300 Decatur, GA 30032-1239 Monday - Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM |
SB 202 FAQs
DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections is committed to keeping residents informed of any laws that may impact the voter experience, and we encourage voters to make informed decisions about how, when, and where to cast their ballot. On March 25, 2021, SB202 was signed into law and will change how some DeKalb voters are able to vote. For more information, please read the following frequently asked questions or contact DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) at (404) 298-4020.
What are the changes to absentee (also known as mail-in) voting?
There are multiple changes to absentee voting. If you’re planning on voting by this method, please carefully review the new law, with the following major changes. Note that voters who are over 65, disabled, in the military or live overseas can make a single request for an absentee ballot and automatically receive an absentee ballot for all elections during the election cycle. Some changes include:
- The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot has moved to the Friday two weeks prior to an election, shortening the previous allowable time to request an absentee ballot.
- Government and third-party groups are restricted in how they are permitted to send unsolicited requests for absentee ballot applications (meaning voters should not receive multiple requests in the mail).
- The window for mailing absentee ballots to voters has been shortened, so voters will have less time to fill out and return their ballot. Absentee ballots cannot be requested until 78 days prior to Election Day, shortening the previous window considerably.
- To request an absentee ballot, an individual must fill out the application and return it to the DeKalb VRE office via email, fax, or in-person. A signature is required, so completing the process online is not available at this time. The law only allows authorized individuals to request a ballot on behalf of someone else.
Do I need identification to request an absentee ballot?
Yes, an absentee ballot request will require identification. If you do not have any of these forms of identification listed in the form of identification (ID) allowed under the new law, please contact the DeKalb VRE for more information at (404) 298-4020.
What forms of identification (ID) are allowed under the new law to request an absentee ballot?
Georgia law allows for multiple forms of acceptable ID, which include:
- A Georgia Driver's License, even if expired
- Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID Card issued by your county registrar's office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)
- A 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
- A valid U.S. passport ID; a valid U.S. military photo ID; or a valid tribal photo ID
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.
Will I still be able to vote early?
Yes, early voting, also referred to as advance voting, is being expanded for some counties as part of SB202. For voters in DeKalb County, advance voting schedules should not include major changes. Major changes to the law include:
- All Georgia counties are required to offer two Saturdays for advance voting. Sundays are formally an optional day per the new law. As the next election draws nearer, the DeKalb VRE Board will announce DeKalb County specific information on weekend voting.
- Operating hours for advance voting are being expanded in many counties to begin earlier in the day and end later into the evening. Stay tuned for specifics on advance voting in DeKalb County as the next election details are announced.
Are polling places or precincts changing due to the new laws?
The law doesn’t mandate any changes to polling places or precincts, but there are new requirements for how changes are communicated including larger signs at changed locations. Additionally, the new law requires polling locations with long wait times to address the long wait by adding additional staff, equipment and/or locations for subsequent elections.
What other changes will I notice during the next election?
The most noticeable changes for many voters surround the new rules regarding absentee voting.
- Runoff Elections: The time between an election and runoff is being shortened, so voters will have less time to request and return absentee ballots.
- Line Warming Restrictions: “Line warming” of any kind is prohibited within 150 feet of a building containing a polling place. This means voters may not receive or provide water, food, snacks, portable chairs or other items from third-party groups and third-party groups are prohibited from providing those items.
- Drop Boxes: Drop box locations are significantly reduced under the new law and will be available inside certain advance voting locations during operating hours only. DeKalb County will publish locations as the next election draws near.
- Provisional Ballots: Provisional ballots will not be counted for voters who arrive at an incorrect precinct on Election Day apart from those who arrive between 5pm and 7pm. All other voters who arrive at the incorrect precinct will be asked to go to their correct precinct.
What if I still have questions about SB202?
To read the full law in its entirety, please visit: https://legiscan.com/GA/text/sb202/2021
Contact Us:
| EMAIL: | voterreg@dekalbcountyga.gov |
| PHONE: | (404) 298-4020 |
| FAX: | (404) 298-4038 |
| OFFICE: | Voter Registration & Elections 4380 Memorial Dr, Suite 300 Decatur, GA 30032-1239 Monday - Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM |