Georgia voters can now begin requesting absentee ballots for November Election

The Georgia Secretary of State's Office says August 17 is the first day voters can apply for an absentee ballot for the November election.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Georgia voters who plan to vote by mail can begin requesting an absentee ballot Monday, August 17, for the November 3 General Election.

Georgia allows voters to cast an absentee ballot even if they will be in their county on Election Day.

Voters can request an absentee ballot through their county elections office. Applications can also be requested online through the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.

“You can come into the office here at Macon Mall, you can call the office, and we will send you an application, ” said Gillon. “You can also go to the Secretary of State of my voter page and put in your information, and then you can request a ballot that way.”

The Secretary of State’s Office says voters requesting an absentee ballot will need a completed application, their address, date of birth, and county of registration. Voters must also provide their Georgia driver’s license or state ID number, or a copy of an accepted form of identification if they do not have one of those numbers.

Election officials recommend requesting an absentee ballot early.

The Secretary of State’s Office says county election offices can begin sending absentee ballots to most voters 29 days before an election. The U.S. Postal Service recommends allowing seven to 10 days for delivery.

Once voters receive their ballot, it can be returned by mail or through an available ballot drop box.

The ballot can also be delivered directly to the county elections office.

For the November 3 General Election, voters should make sure their absentee ballot is received by their county elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

The Secretary of State’s Office advises voters to allow enough time for their ballot to reach election officials.

Voters who request an absentee ballot but later decide to vote in person may still be able to do so, depending on whether their absentee ballot has already been received by the county elections office.

For additional information about absentee voting, voter registration and polling locations, voters can visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.

The November 3, 2026 General Election will include federal, state and local races across Georgia.