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Voter Frequently Asked Questions
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- Am I registered and where do I vote?
You should receive a precinct card in the mail within two to four weeks after registering. The location of your polling place is located on your precinct card. If you do not receive a precinct card you may check your status by contacting the Elections and Registration Department at 770-830-5824. You can also visit the state`s Poll Locator Web site or call 1-888-265-1115.
PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL ELECTION DAY TO CHECK YOUR STATUS.
- What do I do if my address or name changes?
Voters are required to notify in writing the board of registrars whenever they move. If there is a change in your legal name, you must complete a new registration application. Changes must be received by the Elections & Registration Office 30 days prior to any election to be in effect for that election.
- May I have someone assist me when voting?
No elector shall receive any assistance in voting at any primary or election unless he or she is unable to read the English language or he or she has a physical disability which renders him or her unable to see or mark the ballot or operate the voting equipment or to enter the voting compartment or booth without assistance. Before receiving assistance, the elector shall take an oath that shall be administered to him or her and placed in writing by a manager, giving the reason why the elector needs assistance. The printed name and signature of such person assisting the elector shall be provided.
In elections in which there is a federal candidate on the ballot: Any elector who is entitled to receive assistance in voting under this code section shall be permitted by the managers to select any person of the elector's choice except the elector's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the elector's union.
In all other elections: Any elector who is entitled to receive assistance in voting under this code section shall be permitted by the managers to select (1) any elector, except a poll officer or poll watcher who is a resident of the precinct in which the elector requiring assistance is attempting to vote; or (2) the mother, father, sister, brother, spouse or child of the elector entitled to receive assistance, to enter the voting compartment or booth with him or her to assist in voting, such assistance to be rendered inside the voting compartment or booth. No person shall assist more than ten (10) such electors in any primary, election or runoff covered by this paragraph.
If someone doesn't speak English well enough to vote, these voters may bring someone with them to assist them in voting. They will need to sign an `Oath of Assisted Elector.`
- May I bring my children with me to vote?
Children under the age of 18 may accompany a parent into the voting booth. However, they may not be disruptive or interfere with the voting process, vote the ballot or operate any function of a voting machine.
- What are the hours for voting?
The hours for voting are 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. The hours of operation are set by state law and have been pre-cleared by the Justice Department; the only other options available are to vote by absentee Ballot or during the week of advance voting.
- Am I allowed time off from work to vote on Election Day?
Georgia law requires employers to grant their workers up to two hours to vote on Election Day. However, the employer is authorized to specify the hours that an employee may use. This provision does not apply to employees whose hours of work begin at least two hours after the polls open or end at least two hours before the polls close. There is no obligation for an employer to pay the employee for the time taken to vote.
- How do I become a poll worker?
In order to become a poll worker, you must meet the following criteria:
1. Be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Carroll County.
2. Be at least 16 years of age.
3. Be able to read, write and speak the English language.
4. No person holding public office or candidate for office may serve as a poll worker.
5. An immediate relative of an elected official cannot serve in an election where the relative is a candidate.
Be advised, however, as a poll worker, you will be required to attend a training session before each election, with the exception of a Runoff Election. You also must report to your assigned polling location at 6:00 AM on the day of the election and work until the polls close and all paper work and machine close out is completed. Typically, you will complete your assignment by 8:30 PM, but there are times when your day could be longer.
If you are interested in becoming a poll worker, please contact our office at 770-830-5823 or 770-830-5824.
We appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you.
- How do you become a Poll Watcher?
There shall only be two (2) Poll Watchers per party for each voting precinct and two 2) Poll Watcher for Advance voting location. Poll watchers must be appointed by the appropriate political party seven days prior to election or runoff election.
Poll Watchers should present letter signed by the Party Chairman and Secretary of political party to the Election Superintendent three (3) days prior to primary, election or runoff election. This letter must contain the name and address of poll watcher, and polling location or advance voting location the person wishes to serve.
The Election Superintendent shall furnish a badge to each poll watcher bearing the words “Official Poll Watcher”, the name of poll watcher, the election or primary in which the poll watcher is to serve and the name of the precinct , advance voting location or tabulating center the poll watcher shall serve.
Poll watchers must wear badges at all times while serving. Poll watchers are prohibited from talking to voters, checking electors list or participating in any form of campaigning while behind enclosed space.
Any infraction must be submitted directly to the Election Superintendent, not the Poll Manager. They are prohibited from using cellular phones, photographic or other electronic devices while inside the enclosed area of polling place.
- Do I have to register by party in Georgia?
No. In the state of Georgia, you do not have to register to by political party in the state’s regular primaries or general elections.
- Do I have to show my I.D. before I vote?
Voters are required to present identification at their polling place prior to casting their ballot.
- How do I know if my provisional ballot counted?
Use the information on the Provisional Ballot Identification Receipt provided to you at the time of voting to check the status of the Provisional Ballot.
- May I receive assistance with my absentee ballot?
A physically disabled or illiterate voter may receive assistance from another voter in the same county or municipality or from the same category of relatives who can make an application for or deliver an absentee ballot. If the voter is outside of the county or municipality, then a notary public can provide such assistance. Any person who assists another person to vote absentee must complete an oath prescribed by law demonstrating the statutory disability and that the ballot was completed as the voter desired. Other than federal elections, no person may assist more than ten voters in a primary, election, or runoff. A candidate on the ballot, or a relative of a candidate on the ballot, may not offer assistance during the election to any voter who is not related to the candidate.
- How do I return my absentee ballot?
Once received, the absentee ballot should be voted per the instructions and returned in one of three ways:
1. United States Post Office; requires sufficient postage. Mail to: Carroll County Elections & Registration
P.O. Box 338
Carrollton, GA 30112
2. Personally deliver; meaning the voter to whom the ballot was mailed and who voted the ballot may deliver the ballot to the Elections & Registration office located at 423 College Street, Carrollton, GA 30117.
3. For a voter that made an application for an absentee ballot as disabled, an adult relative may return the ballot to the Elections & Registration office.
- Can a spouse turn in an absentee ballot for his/her spouse?
Only if the ballot belongs to a disabled voter.
- Can a parent of a child away at college turn in an absentee ballot for his/her child?
A parent of a child away at college can turn in an absentee ballot for his or her child only if the ballot belongs to a disabled voter.
- What is the deadline for absentee ballots?
Absentee ballots must be received by the Board of Elections & Registration Office by 7:00 p.m. on election day.(except Military and Overseas voters that qualify under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act may have ballots received through the Friday after the Election if the ballot is postmarked by Election Day.)
- Can a ballot be picked up for an individual?
No. Absentee ballots must be mailed or voted in office.
- Can a ballot be issued the day before the election?
NO. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-384(a) No absentee ballot shall be mailed by the registrars or absentee ballot clerk on the day prior to a primary or election and provided, further, that no absentee ballot be issued on the day prior to a primary or election.
- How do I organize a UWG Voter Registration Drive?
So efforts are not duplicated all student registration drives should be coordinated through UWG Voter Registrar, Dr. Said Sewell, Associate Professor of Political Science. Contact Dr. Sewell and make him aware of your interest in holding a voter registration drive. His office will provide you with Georgia Voter Registration forms and information you need to organize a registration drive. You may contact Dr. Sewell by calling 678-839-4997 or ssewell@westga.edu
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