How to Vote Absentee

As a Georgia voter, state law gives you the chance to cast a ballot even if you cannot go to the polls on Election Day.

You may request an absentee ballot as early as 180 days before an election. The application must be in writing and contain the address to which the ballot is to be mailed, have sufficient information to identify you as a voter, and indicate the election in which you wish to vote. To vote absentee by mail, send your written request for an Application for Absentee Ballot to the Board of Elections and Registration, 100 South Jefferson Avenue, Suite 217, Eatonton, GA  31024, download it here, or call (706) 485-8683. 

Elderly (75 years of age or older) and physically disabled voters may choose to submit one absentee ballot application  and receive a ballot for the Primary, Primary Runoff, General, and General Runoff elections for that year by marking the appropriate section of the application.  Please remember that a new application must be submitted for each election year in which the voter wishes to participate.  Additionally, a separate absentee ballot application must be made for a Presidential Preference Primary.  If you have any questions about these requirements, please call the BER office at (706) 485-8683.

Applications for absentee ballots by uniformed or overseas voters (pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) can be accepted more than 180 days prior to a primary or election in which a federal candidate appears on the ballot as well as for any resulting runoffs.

If you are physically disabled or living temporarily outside your county of residence, a close relative  (mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, spouse, son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law) who is 18 or over may apply for an absentee ballot for you.  The absentee ballot will be mailed to the registered voter.

The time period for you to cast an absentee ballot by mail generally begins 45 days before a primary or election.  No absentee ballots are issued on the day before or the day of an election, and there is no Advance voting allowed on the Monday before Election Day.

The BER office must receive completed absentee ballots by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.  Absentee ballots received after that time cannot be counted (with certain exceptions for ballots of military personnel and citizens residing outside of the United States).  Absentee ballots may not be delivered to the precincts except when a voter wishes to cancel the absentee ballot and vote in person.  The completed absentee ballot must be mailed or personally delivered to the BER office, except that delivery for a physically disabled elector may be made by an adult who is the disabled elector’s mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, or an individual residing in the same household as the disabled elector.

In state and county elections, a physically disabled or illiterate voter may receive assistance in preparing his or her ballot from another voter in the same county or from the same category of relatives who can make an application for or deliver an absentee ballot.  If the disabled or illiterate 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 affirming the statutory disability and that the ballot was completed as the voter desired. Other than when a federal candidate is on the ballot, 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 (refer to O.C.G.A. 21-2-385 (b)).

In federal elections, a physically disabled or illiterate voter may receive assistance from a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union (refer to 42 U.S.C. Section 1973-aa-6).

There are two methods of absentee voting in Georgia: 

1. The first method of absentee voting is Voting by Mail.  If you are a registered voter in Putnam County, simply mail, drop off, fax, or email (as an attachment) your completed absentee ballot application to the BER office.  You will not be required to provide a reason for voting absentee using this method.  After the application is approved, you will be mailed an absentee ballot.  Please note that you may not pick up a paper absentee ballot in person. 
   • Mail or drop off your completed application to: Putnam County Board of Elections and Registration, 100 South Jefferson Avenue, Suite 217, Eatonton, GA 31024
   • Fax your completed application to: (706) 485-9684
   • Scan your completed absentee ballot application and email it to bersanders@gmail.com.  Please make sure that the scanned image of your application is of good quality.
     
     
2. The second method of absentee voting is to vote in person (on touch screen voting machines) during Advance Voting.  Advance Voting begins on the fourth Monday immediately prior to each primary or election and as soon as possible prior to a runoff and ends on the Friday immediately prior to each primary, election, or runoff.  Voting is conducted during normal business hours on weekdays (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Monday - Friday) in the BER office.  Advance Voting is also conducted on the second Saturday prior to each primary or election in which there are federal or state candidates on the ballot.  Beginning the second Monday immediately prior to each primary, election, or runoff, a satellite site for Advance Voting is opened at the Board of Education administrative office building (see address below).  Although Advance Voting is also permitted in the BER office during this week, the Board of Education administrative office building is the preferred location. It will have more voting machines, more election officials, more convenient parking, more comfortable conditions for waiting in line (if necessary), and does not require voters to pass through a security checkpoint (which is required to get to the BER office in the Courthouse).  You are not required to give a reason for voting in person during Advance Voting.  Please remember that no Advance Voting is allowed on the Monday before Election Day.
   • Board of Education administrative office building:

158 Old Glenwood Springs Road
Eatonton, GA 31024
(next to Putnam County Elementary School)
Click here for a map to this location.

This summary covers most situations, but there are other laws affecting absentee voting.  If you have questions or special circumstances, contact the BER:

Board of Elections and Registration
Courthouse
100 South Jefferson Avenue, Suite 217
Eatonton, GA 31024
706-485-8683 (office)
706-485-9684 (fax)
bersanders@gmail.com