Secretary of State Kemp Announces Start of General Election Early Voting Period in all Georgia Counties

Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced today that early voting for the November 2 General Election begins Monday, September 20 and ends on Friday, October 29 in all Georgia counties. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Friday, October 29; mail-in ballots must be received by the voter’s county elections office by the close of polls on Election Day.

Secretary Kemp reminded voters to utilize the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page (MVP) voter education website before participating in the General Election. The MVP website allows voters to view their sample ballot, find the early voting locations in their county and their Election Day polling location, check their registration status, track the status of their absentee ballot, and more. The MVP website can be accessed at: http://www.sos.ga.gov/mvp.

“The MVP e-government solution provides an invaluable educational resource for voters,” said Secretary Kemp. “We want to put as much information in the hands of the voter as we can, in an easy-to-use format. The goal is for every voter in the State of Georgia to have the information he or she needs to be able to make the voting process work for them.”

Secretary Kemp also encouraged Georgians to assist his agency with preventing election fraud. The Stop Voter Fraud website allows Georgians to report questionable election activity online or via the Stop Voter Fraud hotline. Citizens who witness questionable election-related activity can submit a Stop Voter Fraud form at: www.sos.ga.gov/StopVoterFraud or call the Secretary of State’s Voter Fraud Hotline at 877-725-9797.

Voters who cast their ballot in-person or on Election Day will be required to show one of the following 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. Photo identification is not required when voting by mail.

For additional information about Georgia’s photo ID requirement please visit www.GAPhotoID.com.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2.

Brian Kemp was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2010. 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.

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