More than 8,000 people have already voted early in Georgia, as absentee ballots continue to come in ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election.
The early voting total, however, is still a small fraction of the more than 100,000 mail ballots requested so far. Both those numbers will continue to rise almost daily as the election looms. And once “in-person” early voting starts in mid-October, expect totals to skyrocket. In the last presidential election alone, nearly 2 million people in Georgia cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.
Secretary of State Brian Kemp has encouraged anyone who wants to vote by mail to request their ballot now to avoid delays or problems. Absentee ballots can be requested through a registered voter's local county registrar or through the Georgia Secretary of State Office's website (www.sos.ga.gov).
Anyone can confirm his or her voter status online through the Secretary of State Office's online "my voter page" website (www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do).
Anyone who is not registered to vote has through Oct. 11 to do so. If you want to cast a ballot in person, early voting begins statewide on Oct. 17. Check with your local elections office to see where to go.
If you need to register, there are several options:
- For online voter registration, go to the Secretary of State Office's website and, under the elections tab, click "Register to Vote."
- Text "GA" or "Georgia" to "2VOTE" (28683). This service is sponsored by the state.
- Download a voter registration application (http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/Elections/register_to_vote) and mail in the completed form.
- Check the "voter registration" box when you renew or apply for your driver's license.
- If you are a college student, you can obtain Georgia voter registration forms or the necessary forms to register in any U.S. state from your school registrar's office.