Georgia elections: Important dates, how to register, and what to know ahead of 2024

Now that 2023’s municipal elections have come and gone, the Peach State is gearing up for the 2024 election season. In just a few months, Georgia residents will be casting their ballots for the next president, meaning now is the time to make sure your voter registration is up to date.

Voters can choose between three methods of voting: early voting in person at a polling place, casting an absentee ballot, and voting in person on election day. Georgia has open primaries, meaning that voters do not need to be a registered member of a political party in order to participate in primary elections.

Here are some dates and other important information to keep in mind as Georgia gets ready for its 2024 national, statewide and local elections.

When are Georgia’s upcoming elections?

Georgia voters may head to the polls as many as four times over the course of 2024, according to a calendar from the Secretary of State’s website. The first election will be Georgia’s presidential preference primary (PPP), in which voters cast a ballot for their presidential and vice presidential candidates within a specific political party. Georgia's presidential primary will be held on March 12, coinciding with primaries in Mississippi, Idaho, and Washington state and falling a week after “Super Tuesday,” when voters in states like North Carolina, California and Texas cast their ballots.

A congressional primary election, which will allow Georgia voters to choose candidates for the U.S. House of Representative, state Senate, and state House, among other positions, is scheduled for May 21. Any runoff elections will be held on June 18, and the general election is slated for Nov. 5.

How do I register to vote or check my voter registration?

If you’re not yet registered to vote, you can do so online provided you are eligible under Georgia law, and you have a Georgia driver’s license or a Voter ID card, both of which are issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. To register to vote online, go to mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/voter-registration.

You must meet the following qualifications to vote in Georgia, according to the Georgia Secretary of State:

• You must be a citizen of the United States.

• You must be a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote.

• You must be at least 17.5 years of age to register and 18 to vote.

Those serving felony charges and those who are deemed mentally incompetent by a court are not eligible to vote under Georgia law. However, anyone who has been convicted of a felony will have their eligibility restored upon the completion of their prison sentence, parole or probation, and repayment of any fines associated with their felony conviction.

Those who are already registered, or who want to check their registration status, can do so by logging onto Georgia’s My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/. The My Voter Page can also be used to access other helpful information, such as a voter’s local polling location, sample ballot, and ballot status.

What are other important dates to keep in mind?

Voter registration closes 29 days prior to election day, meaning that eligible Georgia residents should make sure their registration is up to date no later than Feb. 12 to participate in the presidential primary. Voters registering by mail should make sure that their application is postmarked by Feb. 12.

Early voting is another resources Georgia residents can take advantage of to avoid long wait times on election day. The polls open for early voting three weeks before the election, with polling places open during the week, on Saturdays and — in some locations — on Sundays for voters to cast their ballots.

In addition, voters can request absentee ballots up until 11 days before the election takes place, with hospital patients granted one extra day to apply. Voters may also submit an absentee ballot application up to 78 days in advance at securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.gov/s/.

If you're mailing your absentee ballot in, make sure you leave enough time for it to be delivered. All ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on election day, when the polls officially close. For more information on absentee voting in Georgia, visit the Georgia Secretary of State's official guide.

Here are some other key deadlines coming up in 2024:

What forms of ID can I use to vote in Georgia?

Georgia has some of the strictest voter ID laws in the country, requiring voters to present a photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, when voting in person or by mail. Voters can also apply for a free Voter Identification Card, which are available at any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services Office in Georgia.

Acceptable forms of identification include:

• A Georgia driver’s license (even if expired)

• A student ID from any of Georgia’s public colleges, universities, or technical colleges (private college and university IDs do not count)

• A valid U.S. passport

• A valid U.S. military photo ID

• A valid tribal photo ID

• A Georgia Voter Identification Card

Voters casting an absentee ballot will need to include their driver’s license or state-issued ID card number. Voters who do not have either form of identification are asked to enclose a copy or photo of one of the other acceptable forms of identification.

But if you can’t find your ID on election day, you should still head to the polls: according to Georgia law, voters can cast a provisional ballot on election day even if they do not bring the proper identification. After a provisional ballot is cast, the voter will have until three days after the election to present a photo ID at their county registrar's office.

For more information about ID requirements, visit the Secretary of State’s website.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia elections 2024: Dates, how to register to vote