Everything You Need to Know Before Election Day
Valeri Cruz Amaya, Co-editor
This past year, Georgia has made several election law changes that are being implemented in November’s elections for the first time. With election day right around the corner, this new voting information can get lost and become an afterthought in everyone’s busy schedules. Whether you’re voting in Brookhaven elections or for your local town, here is everything you need to know to prepare for elections.
Absentee ballots must be requested 11 days before election day and voters must provide a driver’s license or state I.D. when requesting it. Previously, voters had more time to request their ballot but now have until this Friday, October 22, to request it. Additionally, absentee ballots have to be turned into local election offices before polls close on November 2. To request your absentee ballot, visit the Secretary of State’s website, download the application and return it to your county registration office.
Due to the changes in Georgia’s voting laws, there has been a decrease in the number of absentee ballot drop box locations. Drop-boxes are now only located inside voting locations, can only be accessed during normal voting hours and each county has 1 drop box per 100,000 registered voters. For a list of drop box locations in Dekalb county, visit the On Common Ground news website.
If you decide to vote in person, make sure you are hydrated and well-fed. Under the new Georgia voting laws, volunteers are prohibited from passing out water or snacks to anyone standing in line to vote.
In past elections, the anticipation to hear the results lasts for hours or even days as votes are counted. With the new Georgia laws, voters can expect to receive the results faster as election workers are required to count ballots nonstop.
To check your voter information, such as your registration status and your assigned polling location, visit your voter page. To see who is on your ballot go to Vote 411’s voter guide for some help. Brookhaven voters can read up on city council candidates and their priorities on Reporter Newspaper’s guide to Brookhaven elections.
