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

Atlanta—Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel reminds all voters participating in the November 4, 2008 General Election that in-person early voting will continue Monday, October 27 and end Friday, October 31, 2008. During this week, also known as Advance Voting Week, many county elections offices will offer additional voting locations and extended hours. Locations and hours can be found on the Secretary of State’s website at: http://www.sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/AdvanceVoting.asp.

In Georgia, 967,210 voters have cast ballots during the early voting period.

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.

Voters can request an absentee ballot through Friday, October 31, 2008. All absentee ballots must be received by the county registrar on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Photo identification is not required when voting by mail. To download an absentee ballot request form, please visit http://www.sos.georgia.gov/Elections.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Voters can find voter registration information, including polling locations and legislative districts, by visiting http://www.sos.georgia.gov/Elections 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.