APS Election: FAQs

2023 APS RUNOFF ELECTION

RUNOFF VERSION: With polls open, Atlanta Civic Circle and Capital B Atlanta answered some frequently asked questions people might have about the school board elections and voting process.

Not sure why you should vote in this election? We’ve got answers.

Read on for what you need to know before casting your vote.

Have questions not on this list? Check the FAQs from the Fulton County Department of Registration and Election. Check the FAQs from the DeKalb County Department of Voter Registration and Elections.

FAQs

Am I eligible to vote?

In Georgia, you are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of Georgia, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, Nov. 7. You must also not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction. To vote, you must be registered. The voter registration deadline was Oct. 10.

Double-check your registration status

Who is on the ballot?

Runoff Election: Seat 7 is the only race on the ballot for the runoff. Incumbent Tamara Jones and challenger Alfred “Shivy” Brooks are vying for your vote.

General Election: Five of the nine Atlanta Board of Education seats are up for election this year. Districts 1, 3, and 5 are on the ballot, plus Seats 7 and 9 which represent the entire city. Visit our My Ballot page to find out which Atlanta School Board district seats will be on your specific ballot. Seats 7 and 9 will be on every Atlanta voter’s ballot.

When is the election?

Runoff Election: Early voting is underway. Election Day is Dec. 5

General Election: Early voting begins Oct. 16 and runs through Nov. 3. Election Day is Nov. 7.

What are the early voting hours and locations?

Runoff Election: Early voting is from Saturday, Nov. 25 to Friday, Dec. 1.
On Dec. 5, Election Day, you must vote at your designated voting precinct.

Fulton County Locations –– open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Buckhead Library
- 269 Buckhead Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30305
C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center
- 3021 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 303011
East Point First Mallalieu United Methodist Church
- 2651 N Church Street, East Point, GA 30334
East Roswell Library
- 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30076
Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton
- 4055 Flat Shoals Road, South Fulton, GA 30291
Joan P. Garner at Ponce De Leon Library
- 980 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Roswell Library
- 115 Norcross Street, Roswell, GA 30075

DeKalb County Locations –– open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bessie Branham Recreation Center
- 2051 Delano Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30317

DeKalb Voter Registration & Elections Office
- 4380 Memorial Dr., Decatur, GA 30032
Lynwood Recreation Center
- 3360 Osborne Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30319
North DeKalb Senior Center
- 3393 Malone Dr. , Chamblee, GA 30341
Stonecrest (former Sam’s Club)
- 2994 Turner Hill Rd., Lithonia, GA 30038

General Election: The Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections will conduct the Atlanta School Board election. Below are the early voting hours and locations per their website. Atlanta voters are eligible to vote at any of the below locations in the county. On Nov. 7, Election Day, you must vote at your designated voting precinct.

Hours:

Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 21 and October 28 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, October 22 and October 29 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Locations:

Buckhead Library
- 269 Buckhead Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30305
Chattahoochee Hills
- 6505 Rico Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268
C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center
- 3021 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 303011
College Park Library
- 3467 Main Street, College Park, GA 30337
East Point First Mallalieu United Methodist Church
- 2651 N Church Street, East Point, GA 30334
East Roswell Library
- 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30076
Fairburn Annex
- 40 Washington Street, Fairburn, GA 30213
Fulton County Government Center (Office)
- 141 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30331
Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton
- 4055 Flat Shoals Road, South Fulton, GA 30291
Joan P. Garner at Ponce De Leon Library
- 980 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Robert F. Fulton Ocee Library
- 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30005
Roswell Library
- 115 Norcross Street, Roswell, GA 30075
South Fulton Service Center (Office)
- 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, South Fulton, GA 30349
Southwest Arts Center
- 915 New Hope Road SW, South Fulton, GA 30331

I want to vote by mail. How do I request an absentee ballot?

Voters in DeKalb and Fulton counties can request an absentee ballot electronically through the Secretary of State’s Absentee by Mail Request Portal. See below for specific instructions for requesting a ballot through your county istead.

Fulton County voters:

If you want to request an absentee ballot online directly through the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections, you must fill out the state’s absentee ballot application form and then upload that document to the Fulton County Absentee Portal.

You can also email the complete application form as a PDF or JPG file to Elections.Absentee@fultoncountyga.gov. The file size cannot exceed 5 MB. Be sure to only submit one application per email.

Alternatively, you can fax the completed application form to (404) 612-3697 or mail it to:

Fulton County Registration and Elections
Absentee Ballot Division
5600 Campbellton Fairburn Road
Fairburn, GA 30213

For questions related to absentee ballots, call the county at (404) 612-7060, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DeKalb County voters:

You can also email the complete application form as a PDF or JPG file to absenteeballot@dekalbcountyga.gov. The file size cannot exceed 5 MB. Be sure to only submit one application per email.

Alternatively, you can fax the completed application form to (404) 298-4038 or mail it to:
DeKalb County Voter Registration & Elections
4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300
Decatur, GA 30032-1239

For questions related to absentee ballots, call the county at (404) 298-4020, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where do I drop off my absentee ballot?

You can either drop off your absentee ballot at the designated locations listed below, or mail it back to the DeKalb or Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections. Make sure to follow the instructions provided with your absentee ballot for mailing it back, and consider mailing it well in advance to ensure it is received on time and counted.

Fulton County voters: Below are the absentee ballot designated drop-off locations provided by the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections:

Buckhead Library
- 269 Buckhead Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30305
C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center
- 3021 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 303011
East Point First Mallalieu United Methodist Church
- 2651 N Church Street, East Point, GA 30334
East Roswell Library
- 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30076
Gladys S. Dennard Library at South Fulton
- 4055 Flat Shoals Road, South Fulton, GA 30291

For questions related to absentee ballots, call Fulton County at (404) 612-7060, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DeKalb County voters: Below are the absentee ballot designated drop-off locations provided by the DeKalb County Department of Voter Registration and Elections:

DeKalb Voter Registration & Elections Office
- 4380 Memorial Dr., Decatur, GA 30032
Dunwoody Library
- 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody, GA 30338
Lynwood Recreation Center
- 3360 Osborne Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30319
The Gallery at South DeKalb
- 2801 Candler Rd., Decatur, GA 30034
Stonecrest (former Sam’s Club)
- 2994 Turner Hill Rd., Lithonia, GA 30038
Tucker–Reid H. Cofer Library
- 5234 Lavista Rd., Tucker, GA 30084

For questions related to absentee ballots, call the county at (404) 298-4020, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where is my polling place?

On Nov. 7, Election Day, you must vote at your designated voting precinct. To find your designated polling place, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s “My Voter Page” tool, which allows you to enter your information and find your polling location.

You will be given a provisional ballot if you try to vote at a different precinct.

What do I need to bring with me to vote?

When you go to vote in Georgia, you will need to bring a valid photo ID, such as a Georgia driver’s license, a state-issued ID card, a valid U.S. passport, or a military ID. If you do not have one of these IDs, you can obtain a free Voter ID Card from your county’s election office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

What happens if I’m given a provisional ballot?

If you are given a provisional ballot, it means there is a question about your eligibility to vote at that specific polling place. In Georgia, you have three days to provide the necessary documentation to the county’s election office to resolve the issue. This documentation may include proof of identity or proof of address. You should contact their office for guidance on resolving the issue to ensure your vote is counted.

Meet the candidates