Absentee Voting Information

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.

Requesting an absentee ballot

Electors wishing to vote by absentee ballot must submit an application to the BER. Applications for an absente ballot may be downloaded by clicking here or by contacting the BER office. Absentee ballots must contain the following information about the voter inorder to be accepted and a ballot issued:

  1. Name of elector
  2. Elector's date of birth
  3. Elector's address as registered
  4. Elector's mailing address if different from address on registration
  5. GA Driver's License or ID Card number
  6. Date of Election
  7. Signature of Elector or relatice requesting ballot on behalf of the elector

Applications can be turned into the BER as early as 78 days prior to the election but no later than 11 days prior to the election. This ensures that applications are received, processed, and mailed with enough time for electors to receive their ballot and mail or hand deliver it back to the BER office before the 7:00 PM deadline on Election Day. 

Completed applications may be returned by the following individuals/entities ONLY: 

  1.  The elector 
  2. Relative authorized by law*
  3. Common Carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc)
  4. Absentee Ballot Clerk
  5. Registrar
  6. Law Enforcement Officer in the course of an investigation

Applications should be returned to the BER office at 117 Putnam Drive, Suite D, Eatonton, GA 31024 or via email at putnamcountyber@gmail.com. 

Elederly and physically disabled electors may request a ballot be sent to their address for every election in an election cycle by marking the appropriate spot on the absentee ballot application. Please remember that a new application must be submitted for each new election cycle. 

Requesting an absentee ballot

The BER begins mailing ballots out 29-25 days prior to the election date.

There are several pieces of indentifying information that are required for all absentee ballots. Absentee ballots must include: 

  1. Printed name of elector
  2. Signature of elector
  3. GA Driver's License or ID number
  4. Elector's date of birth
  5. Last 4 digits of elector's Social Security Number if elector does not have a GA Driver's License or ID Card
  6. Signature of elector or person assisting a disabled or illiterate elector

Please read carefully through the instructions included in the absentee ballot packet. Any missing information will delay the processing and acceptance of an absentee ballot. 

All domestic civilian absentee ballots must be returned to the BER office by 7:00 PM on Election Day. Military and overseas citizens have until 5:00 PM on the Friday following the election to return their ballots, they must be POSTMARKED by election day. 

* Relatives auathorized by law include: Mother, father, sister, brother, grandparent, aunt, uncle, spouse, son, daughter, niece, nephew, granchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, as long as the relative is over the age of 18.

There are 17 days of advance in person voting beginning on the 4th Monday prior to the election and ending on the Friday immediately preceding the election. Included in the 17 days are two Saturday voting days, the second and the third Saturdays. There is no voting on the Saturday immediately preceding the election.

In some instances there may not be enough time prior to a runoff election to prepare the voting equipment and hold advance voting for the full 17 days. In those instances voting will begin as soon as possible prior to the election, but no later than the 2nd Monday immediately preceding the election. 

Electors wishing to cast a ballot during the advance voting period must show a photo ID. 

Advance in Person Voting