VOTER INFORMATION

[genenelson]

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Secretary of State Handel Encourages Georgians to Request Absentee Ballots

Atlanta—Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel today encouraged Georgians to request an absentee ballot for the July 15, 2008 General Primary Election and the November 4, 2008 General Election. Registered voters in Georgia can request an absentee ballot for the General Primary and the General Election beginning Thursday, May 8.

“We will likely see high turnout in this year’s General Primary and General Election. That could mean extended wait times at some precincts,” Secretary Handel said. “Absentee voting is a convenient way for voters to exercise their civic duty without having to visit a polling place on Election Day.”

Registered voters can request an absentee ballot from their county registrar by completing the application located on the Secretary of State’s website: www.sos.ga.gov/elections/ElectionCenter08.htm. Voters then submit the form to their county registrar by mail or fax. Contact information for county registrars can be found here: www.sos.ga.gov/elections/ElectionCenter08.htm.

Voters can request an absentee ballot beginning 180 days prior to an election without providing a reason. Absentee ballots will be mailed 45 days prior to federal, state, and county elections and 21 days prior to elections featuring only municipal candidates. Voters must submit a separate absentee ballot application for each election, unless they are physically disabled, of advanced age, or exempted by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Voters participating by absentee ballot by mail are not required to provide photo identification. Absentee ballots must be received by the county registrar by Election Day.

Georgians with more questions regarding elections and absentee ballots can call the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at [phone] or visit www.sos.ga.gov/elections/.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.

2008 Election Dates:

May 5-9, 2008: Advance voting for Special Election for state House District 93
May 13, 2008: Special Election for state House District 93

June 16, 2008: Deadline to register to vote or change address for General Primary
July 7- July 11, 2008: Advance voting for General Primary
July 15, 2008: Election Day for General Primary

July 28- August 1, 2008: Advance Voting for General Primary Runoff
August 5, 2008: Election Day for General Primary Runoff

August 8, 2008: Deadline to register to vote or change address for Special Election
September 8- September 12, 2008: Advance voting for Special Election
September 16, 2008: Election Day for Special Election

September 29- October 3, 2008: Advance Voting for Special Election Runoff
October 7, 2008: Election Day for Special Election Runoff

October 6, 2008: Deadline to register to vote or change address for General Election
October 27- October 31, 2008: Advance voting for General Election
November 4, 2008: Election Day for General Election

November 24- November 28, 2008: Advance Voting for General Election Runoff
December 2, 2008: Election Day for General Election Runoff

The Office of the Secretary of State · Elections Division
1104 West Tower, 2 MLK, Jr. Dr. · Atlanta, GA 30334-1530 · 404.656.2871

[queenbee]

Thanks Gene

[summerose]

Thanks for the info. Gene.

[genenelson]

Thanks, Just passing on information, hope it helps.

Gene Nelson

[genenelson]

Got this e-mail today

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Secretary Handel Reminds Citizens to Register to Vote for July 15 General Primary


ATLANTA—Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel today reminded voters that the deadline to register to vote to be eligible to cast a ballot in the July 15, 2008 General Primary is Monday, June 16, 2008.

To register to vote in Georgia, you must be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you plan to vote, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. You may not register to vote if you are currently serving any sentence imposed by the conviction of a felony or judicially determined to be mentally incompetent.

Citizens who are not registered to vote in the county in which they reside must submit a voter registration application by the deadline in order to vote in the General Primary. Citizens that are registered to vote at a former address within the county where they reside are encouraged to submit a change of address card to their county registrar. Voters who are currently registered at the correct address do not need to submit a new voter registration application.

You can download and complete a voter registration application by visiting the 2008 Elections Center on the Secretary of State’s website: www.sos.ga.gov/elections/ElectionCenter08.htm.

You can also contact your local county registrars' office, public library, public assistance office, recruitment office, schools and other government offices for a mail-in registration form. Voter registration is offered when renewing or applying for a driver's license at any Georgia Department of Driver Services office. College students can obtain Georgia voter registration forms from their school registrar's office or from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Secretary Handel also reminds voters that Georgia law requires registered voters to show photo identification when voting in person. This photo identification requirement applies in the July 15 General Primary and all future elections. When voting absentee by mail, photo identification is not required.
Voters casting ballots in person, either through advance voting or on Election Day, will be required to show one of the following forms of acceptable photo ID when they vote:

• A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired;
• Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS);
• Valid U.S. passport;
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
• Valid U.S. military photo ID; or
• Valid tribal photo ID.

Voters who do not have a form of identification listed above are eligible to receive a free Georgia Voter ID from their county elections office. Voters who have questions are encouraged to call the Georgia Secretary of State’s Voter ID Hotline at [phone] or visit our website at www.GaPhotoID.com.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.


2008 Election Dates:


June 16, 2008: Deadline to register to vote or change address for General Primary
July 7- July 11, 2008: Advance voting for General Primary
July 15, 2008: Election Day for General Primary

July 28- August 1, 2008: Advance Voting for General Primary Runoff
August 5, 2008: Election Day for General Primary Runoff

August 8, 2008: Deadline to register to vote or change address for Special Election
September 8- September 12, 2008: Advance voting for Special Election
September 16, 2008: Election Day for Special Election

September 29- October 3, 2008: Advance Voting for Special Election Runoff
October 7, 2008: Election Day for Special Election Runoff

October 6, 2008: Deadline to register to vote or change address for General Election
October 27- October 31, 2008: Advance voting for General Election
November 4, 2008: Election Day for General Election

November 24- November 28, 2008: Advance Voting for General Election Runoff
December 2, 2008: Election Day for General Election Runoff

Thanks

Gene Nelson

[genenelson]

Got this e-mail today just passing on info.

Thursday July 3, 2008

Secretary of State Karen Handel Reminds Voters to Bring Photo ID to Advance Voting

Atlanta—Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel reminds all voters participating in the upcoming General Primary Election that in-person advance voting will begin Monday, July 7 and end Friday, July 11, 2008. Voters participating in the election during advance voting week or on Election Day will be required to show one of the following six forms of photo ID:

A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired;
Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS);
Valid U.S. passport;
Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
Valid U.S. military photo ID; or
Valid tribal photo ID.

If a voter does not have one of these forms of photo identification, they can obtain a free voter ID card at their county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

Anyone with additional questions about Georgia’s photo ID requirement can visit www.GAPhotoID.com or call toll free [phone]. To find advance voting locations in your county, please contact your county registrar’s office. Contact information can be found on the 2008 Election Center website: sos.georgia.gov/elections/ElectionCenter08.htm.

Voters can request an absentee ballot through Friday, July 11, 2008. All absentee ballots must be received by the county registrar on Election Day, Tuesday, July 15, 2008. Photo identification is not required when voting by mail. To download an absentee ballot request form, please visit sos.georgia.gov/elections/ElectionCenter08.htm.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2008. Voters can find voter registration information, including polling locations and legislative districts, by visiting sos.georgia.gov/elections/ElectionCenter08.htm or by calling [phone].

2008 Election Dates:

July 7- July 11, 2008: Advance voting for General Primary
July 15, 2008: Election Day for General Primary

July 28- August 1, 2008: Advance Voting for General Primary Runoff
August 5, 2008: Election Day for General Primary Runoff

August 8, 2008: Deadline to register to vote or change address for Special Election
September 8- September 12, 2008: Advance voting for Special Election
September 16, 2008: Election Day for Special Election
September 29- October 3, 2008: Advance Voting for Special Election Runoff
October 7, 2008: Election Day for Special Election Runoff
October 6, 2008: Deadline to register to vote or change address for General Election
October 27- October 31, 2008: Advance voting for General Election
November 4, 2008: Election Day for General Election

November 24- November 28, 2008: Advance Voting for General Election Runoff
December 2, 2008: Election Day for General Election Runoff

Thanks

Gene Nelson

[summerose]

Thank you Gene!