Nov 21, 2022 - News

Your guide to voting in Georgia's Senate runoff

Photo illustration of Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Brandon Bell/Getty Images and Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

It's voting time again, Georgia. But there's just one box to check.

Here's what you need to know:

Who can vote?

Unlike the 2021 runoffs, there is no new voter registration window this year.

Driving the news: Only those registered by Nov. 7 are eligible to vote in the runoff.

Yes, but: Those who registered as 17.5 year olds by the Nov. 7 registration deadline and turn 18 on or before Dec. 6, are eligible to vote, per Georgia law.

Here's how:

Voting by mail

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Monday, November 28.

The bottom line: The ballot must be received by Election Day, Dec. 6 — either by mail or by dropbox.

Military and overseas voters this year received a ranked-choice runoff ballot for a possible runoff at the same time they received their general election ballot. They could have already submitted a ranked-choice ballot that will count for the runoff.

Of note: If they haven't submitted it, they still can. If they did not request a ballot for the general election, they can request a runoff ballot.

  • Military and overseas absentee ballots can be received up to Friday, Dec. 9 as long as they are postmarked by Election Day (Dec. 6).

Metro Atlanta early in-person voting

Be smart: While all counties are required to hold early voting Monday, Nov. 28 - Friday, Dec. 2, some can decide to hold more if possible.

Sat., Nov. 26 voting: The state supreme court ruled Wednesday that Saturday early voting can move forward, despite two appeals from the state and from Republican groups.

  • While the Secretary of State had decided that counties could not hold Saturday early voting the weekend after Thanksgiving, a Fulton County judge found last week that they could, in fact, do so after Sen. Raphael Warnock's campaign sued the state.
  • Several counties added early voting hours Sat. Nov. 26 as a result, including Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Douglas.

Here are the greater metro counties' schedules:

Cherokee County: Sun., Nov. 27 from 12-5pm. Mon.-Fri., Nov. 28 - Dec. 2 from 8:30am-7pm.

Clayton County: Sun. Nov. 27 from 12-5pm. Mon.-Fri., Nov. 28-Dec. 2 from 8am-7pm.

Cobb County: Some locations open Sat. Nov. 26 and Sun. Nov. 27 from 12pm-5pm. All are open Mon.-Fri., Nov. 28-Dec. 2 from 7am-7pm.

DeKalb County: Wed. Nov. 23 from 7am-7pm (Memorial Drive location only). Sat. Nov. 26 from 7am-7pm (certain locations). Sun. Nov. 27 from 7am-7pm (all locations). Mon.-Fri., Nov. 28-Dec. 2 from 7am-7pm.

Douglas County: Tues.-Wed., Nov. 22-23, Sat., Nov. 26, as well as the week of Mon.-Fri., Nov. 28 -Dec. 2. Polls will be open those days from 8:30am-6pm.

Fayette County: Mon.-Fri., Nov. 28-Dec. 2 from 7am-7pm.

Forsyth County: Mon.-Fri., Nov. 28-Dec. 2 from 9am-7pm.

Fulton County: Sat.-Fri., Nov. 26-Dec.2 from 7am-7pm.

Gwinnett County: Sat.-Fri., Nov. 26-Dec. 2 from 7am–7pm.

Henry County: Mon.-Fri., Nov. 28- Dec.2 from 7am-7pm.

Rockdale County: Sun. Nov. 27 from 10am–3pm; Mon.-Fri., Nov. 28-30 from 8am–5pm; Dec. 1-2 from 8am-7pm.

Election Day

On December 6, polls will be open from 7am-7pm. You must show up to your assigned polling place to cast a ballot. Check your precinct here.

  • If you arrive at the wrong polling place after 5pm, you will be able to cast a provisional ballot. If you arrive before 5pm, you will have to go to your precinct.

Editor's note: This guide has been updated to show that Douglas County is not the only metro county to hold pre-Thanksgiving early voting.

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