What is a Provisional Ballot?

Provisional Ballot Voting Guide

WHAT IS A PROVISIONAL BALLOT?

A provisional ballot is a paper ballot used by a voter when their eligibility to vote cannot be determined at the polling place. Voters who declare they are registered and eligible to vote in the county in which they desire to vote, but whose names do not appear on the registration list, must be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. If you have a good faith belief you are properly registered in your county, you have the right to vote a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot will count if your eligibility can be determined within three days after Election Day by your County Registrar’s office.  Call our toll free number 844-211-0333 to find out the status of your provisional ballot.

WHICH SCENARIO APPLIES TO YOU?

• I am a registered voter in this county, but I am told I am at the wrong polling place in my county.

You have the right to vote a provisional ballot in this polling place or you can go to your correct polling place, if practicable for you to do so. It is up to you to make this determination. You should take into account the distance of your assigned polling place, the severity of traffic, the possibility of a long line, and your work/personal schedule. Any votes cast by a provisional ballot in the wrong precinct will not be counted unless it is cast after 5:00 P.M. and before the regular time for the closing of the polls on the day of the primary, election, or runoff. If so, your vote will be counted for all the races for which you are eligible.

• I am a registered voter, but I am told I am registered in a different county.

You can vote a provisional ballot in this polling place, if you believe that you timely registered to vote in this county. If you know you are not registered in this county, you cannot vote a provisional ballot in this county. If you vote a provisional ballot in this county and the County Registrar's office determines that you have timely registered to vote in this county, your vote will be counted. If you have proof of your registration, you may provide it to the Registrar’s office within three days of the election.

• I believe I am registered to vote in this county, but the poll worker cannot find my registration or the Registrar's Office cannot confirm my registration.

You can vote a provisional ballot in this polling place, if you believe that you timely registered to vote in this county. If you vote a provisional ballot in this county and the County Registrar’s office determines that you have timely registered to vote in this county, your vote will be counted. If you have proof of your registration, you may provide it to the Registrar’s office within three days of the election.

• I am a registered voter in this county, but I did not bring a photo ID to the polls.

If you have time to find your valid photo ID and return to vote, you can vote normally. If not, you can vote a provisional ballot, but you must affirm that you are the voter identified on the voter roll. Your vote will only be counted if you provide the County Registrar's Office with a copy of a valid photo ID. For your vote to count, you must send a copy of your valid photo ID to your County Registrar's Office within three days of the election. Georgia law requires registered voters to show photo identification in order to vote in person. When you vote in person, you must provide one of the following photo IDs:

o A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired

o Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including one issued by the Department of Driver Services or your Voter Registrar

o Valid U.S. passport

o Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, this state, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state

o Valid U.S. military photo ID

o Valid tribal photo ID

• I am a first time voter in Georgia and when I registered to vote by mail in this county I did not provide a copy of identification verifying my name and address.

If you have time to find the required identification and return to vote, you can vote normally. If

not, you can vote a provisional ballot. Your vote will only be counted if you provide the County Registrar’s office a copy of a valid ID that shows your name and address in this county where you are registered to vote or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address in this county where you are registered to vote. You must provide a copy of this information to the County Registrar's Office within three days of the election.

• I am voting during extended polling hours in an election in which federal candidates are on the ballot.

In the event that the polling hours for a polling place are extended by a court order beyond the normal closing time for a primary, election, or runoff in which federal candidates are on the ballot, all voters who vote after the normal closing time for the polling place shall vote by provisional ballot. (SEB Rule 183-1-12-.18)

If you have proof of your registration or need to provide a copy of your ID, you can send it to your County Registrar's Office in person, by email, by fax or, in the case of disabled voters, by third party delivery. You must do so within three days of the election for it to be considered.