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Georgia Has Safe and Accessible Elections
July 12, 2012 Brian P. Kemp, Georgia Secretary of State
In 2006, Georgia made changes to its election laws that mandated voters have a form of picture identification in order to provide for the safest and securest elections possible.�Because the State recognized that not every Georgia voter has a drivers� license, six different forms of ID are accepted at the polling place.
*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 Department of Drivers Services. *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. *Valid tribal photo ID. *Georgia also offers traditional absentee voting by mail without a picture ID that is secured by triple signature verification. Provisional voting allows you to cast a ballot in person even if all the requirements for doing so cannot be met at the time. If you can provide a proper form of ID, you can return to their county elections office by Friday of that week and their vote will be counted.�No voter is turned away from the polls because they do not have an acceptable form of ID. Georgia has been able to strike a balance between security and accessibility with the voter ID regulation.�Between 2004 and 2008 when the photo ID law was implemented, Georgia has seen an eight percent increase in white votes, a 42 percent increase in African-American votes and a 140 percent increase in Hispanic votes.� Because of the hard work of local boards of election in concert with the Secretary of State�s Office, Georgians were informed and have showed up ready to vote in record numbers. In addition, early voting has given Georgian�s another option when it comes convenient ways to cast your ballot.�You can log into our Office�s �My Voter Page� https://f="https://mvp.sos.stathttps:///">https://mvp.sos.state.ga.us/ ), and determine where to cast your ballot early or on Election Day.�This option is available on weekdays from July 9th to July 27th and on Saturday the 21st.�Primary Election Day is Tuesday July 31st. At the Secretary of State�s Office, we are working night and day to make sure that Georgians have many options to make their voice heard in 2012 and are here to help.�You can reach us at 404-656-2871 or 24 hours a day at www.sos.ga.gov. � |
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