POLITICS NEWS

Georgia’s general Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Before heading out, confirm your assigned polling location, bring an acceptable photo ID and allow enough time to vote.

Early voting ended October 30, after record levels of participation, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With voting now taking place at assigned precincts, lines may be shorter than usual in some areas. Wait times vary, however, so check your own polling place before you leave.

This guide summarizes publicly available election information. Atlanta Wave TV is not credentialed and is not attending election events.

Check Your Assigned Polling Location

On Election Day, registered Georgia voters should go to their assigned polling precinct. Do not assume that an early-voting site is also your Election Day location.

Use the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page to check your polling place and review your voter information. The Georgia Election Day guide also directs voters to My Voter Page or their county registrar’s office for precinct details.

If you are in Cobb County, the Cobb County Elections and Voter Registration page provides local election resources and contact information. Voters in other counties can use My Voter Page to find their county elections office.

A voter checking a generic polling-place map on a phone beside a Georgia map

Know the Voting Hours

Georgia polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you are allowed to cast your ballot, according to Georgia.gov.

If you arrive near closing time, join the line and follow poll worker instructions. The 7 p.m. deadline does not prevent voters already in line from voting.

Check your polling place ahead of time, and plan your trip around your own schedule. If you need directions or want to confirm a location, use My Voter Page rather than relying on an old sample ballot or a location you used during early voting.

Bring Photo ID

Georgia requires voters to show a valid photo ID when voting in person. Examples listed by the state include a Georgia driver’s license and a U.S. passport. Georgia also provides a free voter ID card through county registrar’s offices.

Review the state’s in-person voting information before leaving if you have questions about identification. If you arrive at your polling place and have not met a voting requirement, Georgia says you may request a provisional ballot. The state explains that eligibility issues must be resolved within three days after Election Day for that ballot to count.

A neutral illustration of a photo ID beside a ballot and pencil

Absentee Ballots Must Arrive by 7 p.m.

If you are voting by absentee ballot, the completed and signed ballot must be received by your county elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark alone does not meet the stated deadline.

Georgia’s Election Day information sets the receipt deadline. Check your county elections office for instructions specific to returning a ballot. For Cobb County voters, the county elections page links to local absentee voting information.

If you are unsure about the status or delivery of an absentee ballot, contact your county elections office for guidance as soon as possible. Do not wait until the end of Election Day to check whether the ballot has arrived.

What Races Are on the Ballot?

Two marquee statewide contests are the U.S. Senate race between Jon Ossoff and Mike Collins, and the governor’s race between Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson, as reported by The Associated Press.

Voters may also see state and local offices on their ballots. The races and candidates vary by location. Use My Voter Page to review your ballot information before Election Day.

This guide does not recommend candidates or predict outcomes. Voters can use official ballot information and candidate materials to make their own choices.

What Atlanta-Area Voters Should Keep in Mind

Georgia’s early voting period ended Friday, October 30. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported record early voting levels. That makes the end of early voting an important point of reference, but it does not indicate how busy a particular polling place will be on Tuesday.

Some precincts may have shorter lines than early-voting locations. Others may be busier at certain times. Check the address assigned to you, leave time for travel and remember that anyone in line by 7 p.m. can vote.

For county-specific information, including local contacts, consult your county elections office. Cobb County Elections provides information for Cobb voters. Voters elsewhere in metro Atlanta can use the county office links available through My Voter Page.

Absentee ballot envelope beside a clock and county office building illustration

How to Check Election Results

After polls close, unofficial results are available through the Georgia Secretary of State’s election results site. Results are unofficial when first posted. Check the site for updates rather than treating early totals as final.

The state results page is the central source for Georgia election returns. County election offices may also publish local information. For updates on county procedures, use the official website for your county.

Election Day Checklist

Before heading to the polls on Tuesday, November 3:

  • Confirm your assigned polling place through My Voter Page.
  • Bring a valid photo ID.
  • Plan to arrive before 7 p.m. if possible.
  • If you are in line by 7 p.m., stay in line to vote.
  • If voting by absentee ballot, make sure it is received by your county elections office by 7 p.m.
  • Check results.sos.ga.gov for unofficial results after polls close.

For additional state guidance, visit Georgia.gov’s Election Day page or contact your county elections office.