ATLANTA — It's a day before Election Day, and 343,833 absentee ballots were requested by Georgia voters, according to election turnout data from the Secretary of State's Office. So far, 254,175 have already been accepted meaning that about a third of mail-in ballots still need to be accounted for.
Absentee ballots must be turned in by Election Day, either by mail or in-person. It can feel daunting to mail in your vote. Here are things to consider to make sure your vote counts.
Beware of these absentee ballot mistakes
To make sure your vote counts, it's important to fill out your absentee ballot, or mail-in ballot, correctly.
Don't 'overvote'
Voters should only select one candidate. Picking more than one candidate in a race, otherwise known as overvoting, will disqualify the ballot.
Try to fill the bubbles out completely. It must be 75% filled for a voting machine to be able to read it. Blue or black ink is preferred.
Sign your ballot
There will be a line provided to voters to sign their name, so look out for it.
Election officials said in 2020 that one of the most common reasons for not counting an absentee ballot is that the voter forgot to sign it.
Include ID details
If your ballot asks for identification information, be sure to include it. This ensures that the person filling out the ballot is the intended voter.
Messed up your absentee ballot?
By forgetting identification information, overvoting, or forgetting to sign the ballot, a voter risks "spoiling" their ballot. If voters realize an issue, they can contact their county elections registrar's office to help "cure" or fix their mistakes. Election workers can also contact the voter to confirm the ballot, which is often a document the voter has to fill out and sign.
How to track your ballot
Individuals can also track their absentee ballot on the Secretary of State's My Voter Page. There, voters should be able to see if their ballot has been received. However, votes won't be counted until Election Day, per Georgia law.
People can also use Ballottrax to track their ballot and see if it makes it to their destination while getting text or email reminders. It's important to note that not all counties have opted to use Ballottrax as a service.
Never got your absentee ballot?
People can cancel their request for an absentee ballot by writing to their county supervisor of elections office and opting to vote in person.
If a mail-in ballot is necessary, a voter can call their county registrar's office and get up-to-date information on delivery delays. In extreme circumstances, like if a voter is hospitalized, the county may be able to deliver the absentee ballot.
Changed your mind? Vote in person
Some people enjoy the thrill of heading to the polls on Election Day. Just because a voter has requested an absentee ballot doesn't mean they can't join in on the fun.
On Election Day, voters can hand their absentee ballots to a poll manager at their designated polling place. The manager will take the absentee ballot, cancel it, and hand over a regular ballot so the voter can cast it.
Remember, a ballot must be received by the county registrar no later than the close of polls on Election Day, which is around 7 p.m., unless any issues prolong voting hours.
For more details on absentee voting, visit Georgia's Secretary of State's guide.
Watch the videos in the YouTube playlist below so you're caught up on what you need to know before you head to the polls: