MACON, Ga. — Georgia May 2022 primary election guide: Key dates and voting information
The election day is Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, and we've put together a guide with everything you need to know before you head to the polls.
As always, 13WMAZ is your go-to source for election information, so be sure to bookmark this story, as it will be updated with voter resources, candidate profiles and other election stories as we get closer to Election Day.
Key Dates:
Last day to register to vote in November: October 11
Early voting (in-person and absentee) starts: October 17
Mandatory Saturday voting: October 22 and 29.
Optional Sunday voting (check with your county/polling place)
Final day to submit absentee ballot application: October 28
Early voting ends: November 4
Election Day: November 8
Runoff day, if needed: December 6
What are some of the major races?
R: Brian Kemp
D: Stacey Abrams
L: Shane Hazel
In-depth Coverage: Georgia elections | Candidates for governor
R: Burt Jones
D: Charlie Bailey
L: Ryan Graham
In-depth Coverage: A guide to the other Georgia state offices you'll be voting on and why they matter
D: Raphael Warnock
R: Herschel Walker
L: Chase Oliver
In-depth Coverage: Georgia US Senate race candidates | What to know
R: Chris West
D: Sanford Bishop
In-depth Coverage: Rep. Sanford Bishop, Chris West talk top issues facing Georgia's 2nd Congressional District
Who else is running?
Desmond Brown
Lindsay Holliday
Jeff Howell
Michele Parks
Marshall Talley
In-depth Coverage: Meet the candidates: Macon Water Authority District 2 race heats up ahead of November election
R: Shane Gottwals
D: Tim Riley
In-depth Coverage: Shane Gottwals, Tim Riley face off in Houston County commissioner District 2 race
R: Austin Scott
D: Darrius Butler
In-depth Coverage: 8th Congressional District candidates talk infrastructure, inflation, and religious freedom ahead of election
U.S. House District 10
R: Mike Collins
D: Tabitha Johnson-Green
Attorney General
R: Chris Carr
D: Jen Jordan
L: Martin Cowen
Secretary of State
R: Brad Raffensperger
D: Bee Nguyen
L: Ted Metz
Agriculture Commissioner
R: Tyler Harper
D: Nakita Hemingway
L: David Raudabaugh
There are also two constitutional amendments and two statewide referendum questions facing voters. Those are explained below:
Am I registered to vote?
If it's been a while since you've voted and you're unsure about your voter registration status, if you are new to Georgia and need to register to vote here, or if you just want to check your status, the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page can help you with all of those. If you have recently moved somewhere else in Georgia, you can also update your registration in that portal.
Can I register to vote online?
Yes. To use the Online Voter Registration System, you must have a valid driver’s license or ID card issued by the GA Department of Driver Services.
If you do not have one, you will be asked to submit a paper application. Precinct cards will be mailed out by the county office after they have processed your application.
The state says that can take a few weeks, so if you're planning on submitting a paper application, you should do that ASAP!
Can I vote by absentee ballot?
You can apply for an absentee ballot right now, but the earliest day they can be mailed out is
In order for a registered voter to request an absentee ballot, they must complete an absentee ballot application and return the application to their county registration office.
You can return applications by mail, fax, as an email attachment, or in person to your local county Board of Registrar's Office.
What else does the My Voter Page portal show me?
Besides your registration information, the name and address of your precinct and a link to the early voting location for your county; the portal also has information on the following:
Your U.S. Congressional District, your Georgia Senate District and Georgia House District, with links to each of those persons' official web pages.
Links to a full list of qualified candidates in the upcoming election (along with the last several elections) are also provided, as well as a sample ballot.
When does early voting begin in Georgia?
You'll have to wait until October 17 if you plan on voting in-person.
Where can I see a sample ballot?
You will need to sign into the My Voter Page portal to access a county-specific sample ballot. You can also contact your local elections office.
Where is my polling place?
If you have lost your precinct card, don't remember where your precinct is located, or your precinct has changed since the last time you voted; the My Voter Page portal will tell you the location of your polling place.
If you are planning on voting early, it generally takes place at your county board of elections office and not at the polling place listed on your general voter registration.
What do I need to vote?
When you head to the polls, you'll need one of the forms of ID below to cast your ballot:
- A Georgia driver’s license that's issued by the appropriate state agency
- A valid identification card issued by a branch, department, agency, or entity of the State of Georgia.
- A valid U.S. passport.
- A valid employee identification card with your photo issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States government in the state or any county municipality.
- A valid U.S. military ID with your photo.
- A valid tribal identification card with your photo.
The State of Georgia offers a free voter identification card if you don't have one of the six acceptable forms of photo ID. The voter ID card can be issued at any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services Office.
To get one, you will need to provide:
- A photo identity document or approved non-photo identity document with your full legal name and date of birth.
- Document with your date of birth
- Evidence that you're a registered voter
- Document with your name and residential address
Additional In-depth election coverage:
HOW TO WATCH ON ELECTION NIGHT
13WMAZ will begin providing results and insight as the polls close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 through our streaming service on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. We will be live with updated results throughout the night.
ELECTION 2022: