Secretary of State Karen Handel Reminds Voters to Bring Photo ID to Advance Voting

Atlanta—Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel reminds all voters participating in the September 16, 2008 Special Election that in-person advance voting will begin Monday, September 8 and end Friday, September 12, 2008. Counties can schedule a Special Election on September 16 at their discretion. Voters should contact their county registrar to find out if there is a Special Election scheduled in their county.

Voters participating in the election during advance voting week or on Election Day will be required to show one of the following six forms of photo ID:

• A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired;
• Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS);
• Valid U.S. passport;
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
• Valid U.S. military photo ID; or
• Valid tribal photo ID.

If a voter does not have one of these forms of photo identification, they can obtain a free voter ID card at their county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

Anyone with additional questions about Georgia’s photo ID requirement can visit www.GAPhotoID.com or call toll free (877) 725-9797. To find advance voting locations in your county, please contact your county registrar’s office. Contact information can be found on the Election Center website: http://www.sos.georgia.gov/ElectionCenter.

Voters can request an absentee ballot through Friday, September 12, 2008. All absentee ballots must be received by the county registrar on Election Day, Tuesday, September 16, 2008. Photo identification is not required when voting by mail. To download an absentee ballot request form, please visit http://www.sos.georgia.gov/ElectionCenter.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2008. Voters can find voter registration information, including polling locations and legislative districts, by visiting http://www.sos.georgia.gov/ElectionCenter or by calling (888) 265-1115. 

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.