Georgia
1 Check ID Rules
Voter ID in Georgia
Georgia has different rules for:
🗳️ Voting in Person
✉️ Voting by Mail
IDs for Voting in Person
Georgia requires a photo ID to vote in person.
Option 1: Show an accepted photo ID
You can show (expired is OK):
- Georgia driver’s license
You can show (must be unexpired):
- Georgia state ID card
- Georgia Voter ID card
- Photo ID issued by the US government or any state
- US passport or passport card
- Student ID issued by a public college or university approved by Georgia’s Secretary of State (list available here)
- Tribal identification
- Military identification
- Employee ID issued by the US, Georgia, or local government
Option 2: Vote a provisional ballot
If you can’t present an accepted photo ID, you have to cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots make sure eligible voters are not turned away — but you must take extra steps for your vote to count.
To make your provisional ballot count:
- Appear in person at your county registrar’s office within 3 days after the election.
- Present an accepted form of photo ID.
- Find your local office.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get a free ID in Georgia?
Free IDs are available for Georgia voters!
Georgia issues a free Voter ID card you can use to vote if you don’t have another accepted form of ID.
This ID is only intended for voting. You can get one at any county registrar’s office or Department of Driver Services (DDS) service center.
At a county registrar’s office, bring:
- Photo ID or an approved non-photo document proving your legal name and date of birth
- Proof that you’re registered to vote in Georgia
- A document with your full legal name and residential address
Find your local county registrar’s office.
At a DDS service center, bring:
- Original or certified proof of identity (e.g. a birth certificate or US passport) and any name changes
- Social Security card
- Two documents showing your residential address (e.g. a bank statement or utility bill)
- Proof that you’re registered to vote in Georgia
- A signed affidavit
What if I don’t have the right ID to vote in Georgia?
You can still vote a provisional ballot.
Registered Georgia voters who can’t present an accepted photo ID at the polls have to cast a provisional ballot, and must take extra steps for it to count. Appear in person at your county registrar’s office with an accepted photo ID within 3 days after the election.
Can I use a digital or mobile ID to vote in Georgia?
You must show a physical ID at the polls.
You cannot use an image, copy, or digital ID when voting in person. This includes digital licenses and state IDs from the Georgia DDS.
Do I need a “REAL ID” to vote in Georgia?
You do not need a “REAL ID” to vote in Georgia.
“REAL ID” is a set of national security standards for states to follow when they issue driver’s licenses and state ID cards. Your ID will show a star if it meets REAL ID standards.
Georgia now issues only REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state ID cards. If you need to renew your Georgia license or ID (or apply for a new one), you must go through the REAL ID process. Visit the Georgia DDS website to learn more.
IDs for Voting by Mail
Any registered Georgia voter can request an absentee ballot. You don’t have to give a reason why you can’t vote in person. Georgia voters must provide specific ID numbers or a copy of an accepted ID twice — once when requesting and once when returning.
Requesting your ballot:
Request your absentee ballot from the Georgia Secretary of State. You can request online, in person, or by email, mail, or fax. Give one of these numbers:
- Georgia driver’s license number
- Georgia state ID card number
If you don’t have one of these numbers:
Mark on the application that you don’t have either number, and provide a copy or photo of an accepted ID. You can use:
- Any photo ID accepted to vote in person.
- A current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or government document with your name and address.
Returning your ballot:
Print your Georgia driver’s license or state ID card number (and your date of birth) in the space provided on your ballot’s outer envelope.
If you don’t have one of these numbers:
- Mark on the outer envelope that you don’t have either number.
- Provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
If you also don’t have a Social Security number, mark that on your ballot’s outer envelope and provide a copy of an accepted ID. You’ll get a message in your ballot package if you didn’t include the correct ID with your application — if that happens, put a copy of any required ID in your ballot’s outer envelope.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I track my Georgia mail ballot?
Can I fix my Georgia mail ballot if it is rejected?
Once your absentee ballot is received by the county office, the registrar compares the number on your driver’s license or state ID card to your voter registration record to verify your identity. If you didn’t provide either number, the registrar examines the copies of the other documents you submitted with your application.
What to do:
- If the number is missing, doesn’t match your record, or your other ID documentation is insufficient, your county will contact you.
- They will provide a document you can use to submit the necessary ID and verify your ballot.
