Absentee Voting
Applying for an Absentee Ballot
- You must complete an absentee ballot application (PDF). No reason is required when requesting an absentee ballot.
- Your absentee ballot application must:
- be in writing
- contain the address to which the ballot is to be mailed,
- provide one form of identification (see list below)
- contain the election in which you wish to vote
If you are physically disabled or living temporarily outside your county of residence, a close relative may apply for an absentee ballot for you.
You may also email the printed application by uploading a photo of the application and other required documents on the Secretary of State's website at securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.gov/s/ The application portal allows you to verify your driver's license number on your voter registration record. We urge you to request your mail-in ballot and get it back to your county registrar's office as soon as possible. Mail-in ballots can be requested no earlier than 78 days prior to the election and no later than the 11th day before the election. The voted ballot must be received by your county registrar no later than close of the polls on Election Day.
There are special provisions for Georgia Military and Overseas Voters that can be found at sos.ga.gov/page/military-and-overseas-voting
How to return an Absentee Application
You may return an absentee application ballot via mail:
P O Box 1828, Athens GA 30603
You may return an absentee ballot application via e-mail:
You may return an absentee ballot application in person:
155 East Washington St, Athens GA 30601
New Absentee Ballot ID Requirement
Georgia voters must now provide one form of identification in order to request and return absentee ballots:
- driver’s license
- military ID card
- government employee ID card
- Georgia voter ID card
- U.S. passport
- current utility bill
- bank statement
- government check
To obtain additional information on Absentee Voting, please visit Absentee_Voting_In_Georgia_Rev_3-30-22.pdf (ga.gov)
Ballot Drop box Locations
A secure drop box for submitting absentee ballots is located inside the Elections & Voter Registration Office located at 155 East Washington St., Athens, GA 30601.
Secure Absentee Ballot Drop Box
Ballot Tracking
To find out if the Board of Elections has received your application for an Absentee Ballot, when your ballot was mailed, or if your voted ballot has been returned, view the My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov
Important Reminder
Please remember when requesting a ballot by mail the following: "Except in the case of physically disabled electors residing in the county or municipality, no absentee ballot shall be mailed to an address other than the permanent mailing address of the elector as recorded on the elector’s voter registration record or a temporary out-of-county or out-of-municipality address." Section 21-2-381(a)(1)(D)
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Elections Office
Physical Address
155 East Washington St.
Athens, GA 30601
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1828
Athens, GA 30603
Phone: 706-613-3150
- What is an absentee ballot and who can get one?
- What will I receive with my absentee ballot?
- How do I fill out the Absentee Ballot by Mail?
- How do I get an absentee ballot?
- I mailed in my absentee ballot without the privacy envelope/sleeve. Will my vote still count?
- I've applied for an absentee ballot. Can I pick up my ballot in person?
- What if I decide I want to vote in person and don't want to use the absentee ballot I requested?
- How do I return my voted absentee ballot?