08/21/2026
The deadline to register for the Nov. 3 midterm election is Oct. 5. With Georgia notorious for sweeping purges of the voter rolls, checking, double checking, re-checking your voter registration never hurts. Better to find out while there’s time to do something about it.
How Do I Check That I Am Registered to Vote?
This could not be simpler, as long as you have access to a computer or smart device. Go to www.sos.ga.gov. Click the tab marked Elections and go to Voter Registration. Or go to the My Voter Page for direct access to the same verification page. Both pages will ask for your first initial, your last name, the county you live in and your date of birth. Click Submit and you’ll know everything you need to know. If you are registered, it will also give you information about your polling place, and your voting history. You can request a hard copy of your voter registration card, apply for an absentee ballot, and, once you’ve voted, track the progress of your ballot.
If you do not own a computer or smart device, you can use the ones available at most public libraries. Barring either of those options, go to your local election headquarters and have them check for you.
What Do I Do If I Thought I Was Registered But Discover That I'm Not?
The same website, www.sos.ga.gov also has a tab under Elections where you can register. Public libraries stock postage-paid voter registration applications if you’d rather register or update your registration by mail. To register in person, go to your local election headquarters. You will need proof that you reside in Georgia and are over 17-1/2 years of age; a valid driver’s license, passport or other government-issued ID are all valid.
What If I've Moved Since the Last Election?
You will need to update your registration to reflect your new legal address. The address listed on your registration must match the address on your photo ID, which you will be asked to present when you vote. If you obtained a new driver’s license when you moved, your registration was changed automatically. However, you should still check to be sure this has happened before you go to the polls.
My Marital Status Changed, Does that Change My Registration?
Change of address and change of last name are two common causes for eligible voters being purged from the voter rolls. As with a change of address, the name on your registration and on your photo ID must match. This is true whether your name changed for any reason or, importantly, if your name is spelled differently from one document to the other. If there is a discrepancy, follow the same steps as for change of address. Going to sos.ga.gov to make the changes is the simplest way.
Does My Voter Registration Expire?
The answer should be no but, in Georgia, the answer is yes. If you do not vote over the course of 10 years, i.e., in two federal election cycles or any of the state and local elections in between, you will be purged from the voter rolls. You can reinstate your registration at sos.ga.gov, challenge the purge, and regain your eligibility.
Voter purges are not necessarily nefarious plots to deprive voters of their rights. Keeping the voting lists up to date by removing people who have died or moved out of state prevents fraud. However, some people have the same last name as people who are deceased or no longer Georgia residents. Checking your voter registration periodically, before an election and especially following a purge, are easy ways to keep everything up to date. But the absolute best way to prevent problems with your registration is to vote. Every election matters.
Proudly working for the people of Georgia to secure elections, and promote strong business policies.
