If you’re a college student wondering if you can vote in your college town, the answer is yes! Whether you’re an in-state or out-of-state student, Georgia allows you to register and vote where you live while attending school.
Navigating the voting process as a college student can seem confusing, but it’s simpler than you might think. Here’s a guide to help you make sure your vote counts.
Who can vote in Georgia?
To vote in Georgia, you must meet the basic requirements: be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and a legal resident of the Georgia county where you wish to vote.
For students, the key factor is residency. You can choose to register to vote either at your school address or your permanent home address. This goes for both in-state and out-of-state students attending a Georgia university.
For out-of-state students, you can register to vote in Georgia as long as you consider your school address your primary residence. Georgia doesn’t have any minimum time requirement for residency, so all students attending college in Georgia can register to vote using their campus residential address.
However, you cannot be registered to vote in two states at the same time. That means if you’re already registered to vote back home, you’ll need to cancel that registration if you plan to vote in Georgia.
You can update your voter registration address and check your voter registration status here.
If you have a valid Georgia driver’s license or state-issued ID card, you can register online here. If you do not have either of those forms of Georgia identification, then you must submit an application using the last four digits of your Social Security number by mail or in person.
Keep in mind that Georgia’s voter registration deadline is 30 days before Election Day, which falls on Nov. 5 this year. Plan ahead to ensure your registration is complete. Getting your new college address approved can take up to a week online and up to a few weeks if you submit your registration by mail.
Take note: Before changing your voter registration to your college address, it’s important to consider how it might affect your financial aid or scholarship eligibility, especially if you’re receiving aid based on your home address. For out-of-state students, switching your registration to Georgia could conflict with school financial benefits. Check with your financial aid office if you’re unsure.
If out-of-state, consider absentee voting
Absentee voting is another option if a college student does not want to vote in person. If you plan to vote by absentee ballot, you must submit an application – and your county elections office must receive it at least 11 days before the election.
For identification, you can use your Georgia driver’s license. If you don’t have a Georgia driver’s license, you can obtain a state-issued ID card for free at any Georgia Department of Driver Services office or your county voter registration office.
If you don’t have a Georgia-issued ID, you can submit a copy or a photo of alternative identification, such as a Georgia voter ID card, or a valid student ID from a public college or university in Georgia. Student IDs from private colleges are not accepted.
You can also submit a copy of a U.S. passport or a photo ID from another federal or state agency. That includes military IDs, tribal IDs, and employee IDs from federal or state agencies – as long as they include your photograph. If none of these options are available, you can use documents that list your name and address, like a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check.
I’m registered – now what?
You should receive a precinct card that lists the address of your polling place in the mail or by email to confirm your voter registration. For more information, check out the Georgia Secretary of State My Voter Page. You can find out your assigned polling location, check the status of your voter registration or absentee ballot, view a sample ballot for your voting location, and print a copy of your voter precinct card.
What you need on Election Day
Georgia law requires that you bring a photo ID when voting in person, whether it’s during early voting or on Election Day. Acceptable forms of identification include a valid Georgia driver’s license — even if it’s expired — or a state-issued photo ID. A student ID from any Georgia public college or university also works. Note that the address on your license does not need to match your polling location.
Alternatively, you can use a U.S. passport, a military ID, a tribal ID, or an employee ID from a federal, state, or local government agency. Just make sure you bring one of these forms of photo ID with you to the polls to avoid any issues when voting!
If you have any trouble at the polls, call the Voter Protection Hotline at 1-888-730-5816.
Key deadlines for Georgia college voters
To ensure your vote counts, here are the essential deadlines:
Voter registration: You must register to vote at least 30 days before Election Day. This year’s registration deadline is Oct. 7.
Absentee ballot request: If you’re voting by mail, make sure to send the application for your absentee ballot far enough in advance so that your county elections office receives it no later than 11 days before Election Day — by Oct. 25 for the Nov. 5 General Election.
Absentee ballot return: Your absentee ballot must be received by your county election office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. That means you need to submit it before Election Day.
Early voting: In Georgia, early voting starts 22 days before Election Day and ends the Friday before Election Day. For the Nov. 5 election, early voting will run from Oct. 15 through Nov. 1.
* Note that you can vote at any open precinct in your county during early voting. On Election Day however, you must vote at the precinct you’ve been assigned on your voter registration card.