by Robin Kemp
If you plan to vote early in the U.S. Senate runoffs, you have until Thursday at 7 p.m. to get it done.
As of Tuesday, December 23, 64,130 Clayton County voters had cast early in-person or absentee “mail-in” ballots:
- In-person: 43,258
- Absentee ballots: 20,872
44,628 applications for absentee ballots had been received as of Tuesday. Of those, 34,189 had been processed (sent to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, which then sends the actual ballot to the voter by mail), while 56 had been rejected.
What if my absentee ballot was rejected?
If your absentee ballot is rejected because you forgot to sign it or because someone thought your signature did not match the one on file, don’t panic. You’ll need to fill out an Absentee by Mail Ballot Signature Cure Affidavit Form and bring, fax, or mail it to the Elections and Registration Office within three days after the election. Be sure it gets there before the close of business. Otherwise, your ballot will not count. Here’s what it looks like:
The form contains an affidavit that the voter must sign or mark, swearing or affirming that they are “registered and qualified to vote in the primary, election, or runoff in question” and “previously requested, completed, and returned an absentee by mail ballot.”
After you sign or make your mark, you’ll need to print your name clearly and write in the date you filled out the form.
Acceptable forms of ID
You’ll also need to make a copy of your Georgia driver’s license or other valid form of ID, which includes:
- Valid photo ID from Georgia, any other state, or the United States
- Valid U.S. passport
- Valid government employee photo ID
- Valid U.S. military photo ID
- Valid Tribal photo ID
- Current utility bill showing your name and address
- Current government check or paycheck showing your name and address
- Current government document showing your name and address
- Current bank statement showing your name and address
How do I fix this?
You have three choices for getting your ballot cured:
- While you can mail the form and copy of your ID, at this point it’s way too close to the election to take a chance on postal delays. For future reference, the mailing address is Clayton County Elections & Registration, 121 South McDonough St., Jonesboro, GA 30236.
- Your best bet is to go in person (or send a trusted household or family member) and give your affidavit and copy of your ID to the friendly clerk at the office window. If you are able-bodied, park in the lot on the right as you drive up the courthouse driveway, walk across the street to the rear of the courthouse, and someone inside will direct you to the office. If you need handicapped parking or can’t walk far, there are several handicap spaces on the side of the courthouse near the outside ballot box. Enter the rear of the old courthouse and you’ll be directed to the office; there is a ramp available.
- If you can’t get there in person, you can fax your signed affidavit and copy of your ID to (770) 477-4521.
If you still have questions about curing your absentee ballot, call (770) 477-3372 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or e-mail elections@claytoncountyga.gov.
Early voting locations open 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Elections and Registration Office, Historic Courthouse, 121 S. McDonough Street, Jonesboro
- Carl Rhodenizer Recreation Center, 3499 Rex Road, Rex
- Lee Headquarters Library, 865 Battle Creek Road, Jonesboro
- Morrow Municipal Complex, 1500 Morrow Road, Morrow
- South Clayton Recreation Center, 1837 McDonough Road, Hampton
- Virginia Burton Gray Recreation Center, 1475 E. Fayetteville Road, Riverdale
- J. Charley Griswell Senior Center, 2300 Georgia Hwy. 138 East, Jonesboro
Learn more about the candidates running for U.S. Senate by checking out our candidate profiles.
