Politics

Did you know? You can still register to vote in Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoffs

By WSBTV.com News Staff
By WSBTV.com News Staff

Just because you weren’t registered for the general election doesn’t mean you can’t vote in the U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia.

Voters did not have to vote, or even be registered to vote, in the Nov. 3 election to take part in the federal runoff elections on Jan. 5. You did have to be already registered in order to vote in state or local runoff elections.

Georgia has two U.S. Senate seats up for grabs in January that could determine the balance of power in the Senate.

[SPECIAL SECTION: Election 2020]

[RELATED: State officials warning people not to move to Georgia just to vote in Senate races]

Incumbent David Perdue is facing off against Jon Ossoff. Perdue had just under 50% of the vote in the general election, with Libertarian Shane Hazel’s 2.3% forcing the runoff between the two candidates.

In Georgia’s special election for the seat of retired Sen. Johnny Isakson, Incumbent Kelly Loeffler will face off against Raphael Warnock.

The deadline to register to vote for the runoffs is Dec. 7. You can also verify that you’re properly registered to vote by visiting the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page and submitting your information.

Here’s what you need to do if you still need to register:

Make Sure You’re Eligible

To register to vote, you must:

  • Be a citizen of the United States
  • Be a legal resident of the county
  • Be at least 17 1/2 years of age to register and 18 years of age to vote
  • Not be serving a sentence for conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude
  • Have not been found mentally incompetent by a judge

Fill Out & Submit a Voter Registration Application

Check for your Precinct Card

After you register, the Secretary of State will send your precinct card to your county, who will then send it to you. Your precinct card lets you know where you need to go in order to vote. It is important to note that you don’t need to bring your precinct card to vote.

If you have misplaced or have not received your precinct card within 3 to 4 weeks of submitting your voter registration application, contact your local county registration office to request a new precinct card or to check the status of your application.

Vote

  • View a list of upcoming elections and registration deadlines on the Secretary of State’s election calendar.
  • Locate your polling place by logging into the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.
  • On Election Day, polling stations open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. If you can’t vote during those times, you can either vote early or send in an absentee ballot.
  • When you arrive at your polling station, you’ll need to bring a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or voter identification card.
  • The polls offer audio ballots for voters who are blind or have low vision and booths for voters in wheelchairs. If you need help with your ballot, you can ask a family member or friend to come with you to the polls and fill the ballot in with your choices.
  • If you move, you must file a notice of your new address in writing to your County Board of Registrar’s Office, or submit a new voter registration application.

Information from the state of Georgia

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