No surprise here: Georgia is shaping up to be a major battleground in this year’s midterm elections.
While the analysts are in full swing bringing you the latest on all the big races—namely the one between incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and his Republican challenger Mike Collins—we’re going to bring it back to the basics.
Whether this is your first time voting in Georgia, your first time voting anywhere, or just your first time back to the ballot box after a long hiatus, there are a few important but easy-to-learn tips that you should know in the lead-up to this fall’s elections.
This year’s general elections are referred to as the midterms because they land halfway between two presidential elections. Midterms are often seen as a report card of sorts, measuring what level of support the American people have for the current presidential administration and its party’s candidates.
A special election precedes Georgia’s midterms
When US Rep. David Scott passed away in April, his unexpected death set in motion a special election to fill his seat in Georgia House District 13 (Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Henry counties). A slate of five candidates went for the seat, with the congressman’s daughter Marcye Scott and former Gwinnett County School Board Chair Everton Blair coming out on top in the first special election in June.
Because neither garnered a majority vote over 50%, those two will face off in a special election runoff on Aug. 25.
As explained here by the Georgia Recorder, the runoff winner will serve just a few months before the next term begins in January. State Rep. Jasmine Clark, who did not run in the special election, has already won the May primary and will be the Democratic candidate in the midterms. She is expected to easily beat her Republican opponent in November and represent the district for a full term.
What’s on the ballot if you’re voting in Georgia’s midterm elections
While only voters in District 13 will be taking part in the Aug. 25 runoff, all 14 of Georgia’s congressional districts will be on the ballot come November. That’s along with the aforementioned US Senate seat; governor and lieutenant governor (elected separately); secretary of state; attorney general; commissioners of Agriculture, Insurance, and Labor; state school superintendent; and public service commissioner.
There are also legislative and judicial offices up for grabs, ballot measures, special items, and local races throughout the state. Check out a sample ballot to see what exactly you’ll be voting on this fall.
Check your registration status
You can’t vote if you’re not registered, so be sure to check on your registration status while there’s still time to act on it.
The secretary of state’s My Voter page lets you check on registration status as well as mail-in application and ballot status, your polling location, early voting locations, current representatives, provisional ballot status, and more.
Register to vote
You can register to vote online through the state’s online voter registration system or by mail. If you’re looking to do things manually, just download and complete the postage-paid voter registration application and mail it to the Secretary of State’s office at the following address:
2 MLK Jr. Dr. S.E. – Floyd W. Tower
Suite 814
Atlanta, GA 30344
You must register by Oct. 5 to vote in the general election.
Take part in early voting
Early voting allows voters to beat the lines and vote ahead of time at a polling place, much like they would on Election Day (Nov. 3).
Advance voting, as it’s referred to by some Georgia election officials, runs from Oct. 13-31. You can vote at any early voting location in your county. Find them at the My Voter page.
Early voting takes place Monday through Friday and the second and third Saturdays before Election Day (Oct. 17 and Oct. 24). Some counties also offer early voting on the corresponding Sundays (Oct. 18 and Oct. 25) and the final Saturday (Oct. 31) before Election Day.
You can find contact info for your respective county election officials here to learn the details for where you live.
Voting on Election Day
You can vote in person on Election Day from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at your assigned polling place. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will still be allowed to vote. Find your assigned polling place at the My Voter Page.
You’ll need a government-issued photo ID to verify your identity before voting. Visit the Georgia Voter Identification Requirements page for more information regarding acceptable forms of ID.
Voting by mail
In Georgia, you can cast an absentee ballot for any election, even if you won’t be absent from the county on Election Day. You can request the ballot online or by mail, and when it comes, return it by mail or in a drop box.
Download the application form for absentee voting here. Fill out your address, date of birth, county where you are registered, and ID number from one of the accepted forms of identification.
You must submit your application by Oct. 23. If you miss that deadline, you can still vote in person during early voting or on Election Day.
Send your absentee ballot by mail in the pre-addressed envelope or by dropping it off at a ballot drop box. Check with your county elections office to find out what drop box locations are available closest to you.
For more information, download the state’s guide to absentee voting.
Important dates to know when voting in Georgia
Aug. 25, 2026: Special runoff election (Georgia Congressional District 13 only)
Oct. 5, 2026: Deadline to register to vote for general election
Oct. 13-31, 2026: Early voting
Oct. 23, 2026: Deadline to submit application for absentee ballot
Nov. 3, 2026: Election Day
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