Election 2022: Key dates, rules and races you need to know ahead of Nov. 8

The countdown to the Nov. 8 general election is now at the T-minus stage, with candidates living on the campaign trail, elections officials recruiting poll workers and voters covering their eyes and ears during TV and radio commercial breaks to avoid the political ads.

The Georgia midterm election features key federal and state races as well as ballot referendums. The last midterm, held in 2018, drew a then-record voter turnout as Georgians flocked to the polls to cast ballots in a highly publicized governor’s race between Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams.

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Those two will be atop the ticket again this midterm, as will a much anticipated U.S. Senate contest pitting the Democratic incumbent, Sen. Raphael Warnock, against Georgia Bulldog football icon Herschel Walker.

As Election Day nears, here’s what you need to know.

What are the key dates on the election calendar?

Before Nov. 8, Georgia’s would-be voters face several election-related deadlines.

The first is Oct. 11, the state’s voting registration deadline. While some voting rights advocates have pushed for registration to remain open up to and including election day, the Georgia General Assembly has not included changes to the registration deadline in its voting reforms the last two years. Registration can be done online at registertovote.sos.ga.gov.

As for absentee voting, Georgia is a no-excuse absentee ballot state, meaning any voter can request an absentee ballot and does not have to provide an excuse or a reason. The absentee ballot request period opened Aug. 22 and closes Oct. 28. Absentee ballots can be requested online at georgia.gov/vote-absentee-ballot.

County registrars will begin mailing absentee ballots on Oct. 10 and completed ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Nov. 8. Ballots can be returned by mail, in absentee ballot drop boxes or to voter registration offices. Drop boxes are available only during early voting hours. Absentee voters can check the status of absentee ballots at mvp.sos.ga.gov.

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In-person early voting begins Oct. 17 at various locations. Information on those sites and the dates and hours will be made available prior to the start of early voting. Voters can cast ballots in advance at any of the early voting locations, regardless of their assigned Election Day precinct.

What do I need in order to vote?

Photo identification is required to cast a ballot, either in person or online. Valid forms include a passport, military photo ID, an ID from any federal or state body of government, a government employee photo ID, or tribal photo ID.

Georgians can also acquire a voter ID card, issued free of charge at any county registrar’s office or Georgia Department of Driver Services office. To get a voter ID card, applicants must provide an identity document that includes full legal name and date of birth, such as a government-issued birth certificate; evidence that he or she is a registered voter; and a document showing name and address, such as a utility bill.

Those utilizing in-person early voting locations to cast ballots cannot wear clothing promoting any political candidates or political slogans, including facemasks. Firearms are also prohibited at the polls.

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What is on the general election ballot?

Voters will want to study up before filling out their ballots, be it via absentee or in-person, as the ticket is loaded with candidates and items.

As with every midterm election, all state offices will be on the ballot. This includes constitutional office posts, from governor to secretary of state to attorney general to Labor commissioner, as well as all 236 seats in the Georgia General Assembly.

Federal offices will be contested as well. This year marks the end of one of Georgia’s two U.S. Senate terms, which run six years. Sen. Warnock, who won the seat in a special election in 2020, must win it again this fall. He is completing the term of Sen. Johnny Isakson, who retired due to health reasons in 2019.

Also, all 435 U.S. House seats will be contested in the midterms. This includes posts held by Georgia’s 14-member congressional delegation.

The ballot will include four statewide measures: Two constitutional amendments and two tax exemptions. The referendums are:

• A constitutional amendment to suspend pay for certain public officials if they are suspended from office for being indicted for a felony.

• A constitutional amendment to allow local governments to grant temporary tax relief to certain properties that are damaged or destroyed due to a disaster.

• A tax exemption for merged family-owned farms, with expansion to include dairy products and eggs

• A tax exemption for timber equipment.

Additionally, Chatham County voters will decide on a Transportation Local Option Sales Tax, a 1% levy on most goods and services purchased within the county. The revenue will go toward designated transportation-related projects and would increase the county’s sales tax from 7 cents on the dollar to 8 cents on the dollar.

Ballots differ depending on where voters live. Sample ballots are available for viewing at mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia general election is November 8. Here's what to know