since you last voted…

Since 2020, it’s become harder to cast your ballot in Georgia. Here are the changes you need to pay attention to:

When making a plan to vote…

• You now have to include an ID number from a Georgia-issued ID (driver’s or identification card) when applying for an absentee ballot.
• You’ll also need to include that ID number (or the last four digits of your SSN) on the outer envelope (it’ll be covered when it’s sealed, don’t worry).
• Early voting is now the two Saturdays before Election Day, only. (Some places may also be open on Sunday – check your county website for details.)
• There’s now a deadline for requesting your absentee ballot: eleven days before the election (we did the math – that’s November 25th.)
• Third party groups that help distribute absentee ballot applications will need special forms that indicate that it didn’t come from the government. They also can’t pre-fill anything or fill it out for you anymore.

When casting your vote…

• It’s now a felony to return someone else’s absentee ballot (with exceptions for the disabled and others with caretakers).
• Drop boxes are now legal in Georgia – but check your county website for info on the locations and hours, since those may have changed since 2020.
• It’s now illegal to take a photo of a completed ballot or vote marker. (Why?)
• It’s now illegal to observe someone else completing their ballot.
• There’s now a hotline that goes to the secretary of state’s office where you can report suspected voter intimidation, fraud, or illegal election activities. (No way this gets abused… right?)