Welcome to Election Day 2012, when Georgians make their choice for the nation’s next president, decide whether to amend the state constitution and choose a winner among dozens of contested state and local races. Almost 1.9 million ballots have already been cast, according to early-voting totals compiled by the Secretary of State’s Office — just shy of the record set in 2008. As Tuesday dawns, here’s what you need to know before heading to the polls:
WHERE DO I VOTE?
Personalized polling locations and precincts can be found via the Georgia secretary of state's website at www.sos.ga.gov/mvp. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you mailed in an absentee ballot, you can also check that website to see whether it has been received.
WHAT DO I BRING?
Georgia requires voters to show photo identification when they vote in person. Approved forms of identification include;
- Georgia driver's license, even if it's expired
- State-issued voter identification card;
- Valid U.S. passport
- Valid U.S. military photo ID.
IF I SEE PROBLEMS?
If you see problems, first contact your local elections office. If local officials can't help, the Secretary of State's Office has an online complaint form via the "elections" link at www.sos.ga.gov.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?
Most eyes will be on the presidential race between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, although Georgians will also vote on several statewide and local issues. Those include 14 Senate races and 43 House races up for grabs in contested campaigns. Voters must also decide whether to amend the state constitution regarding control over the authorization of charter schools and how the state may rent buildings for its use. Visit the AJC / WSB Georgia Voter Guide.
FOLLOW THE RESULTS
As the vote-counting begins tonight at 7 p.m., you can follow up-to-the-minute results on AJC.com. We'll be staffed around the clock and providing live updates on the presidential race, the charter school amendment, and other races from around the country, from around Georgia and from around the metro area.
SAMPLE BALLOTS
Log on to www.sos.ga.gov/mvp, plug in your information and access a sample ballot.
EARLY VOTING FINAL TALLY
- Number of ballots cast: 1,882,558
- Number of ballots voted in person: 1,681,426
- Number of mail-in ballots returned: 201,132
- Number of mail-in ballots outstanding: 73,168
TOP 5 COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST TURNOUT
- DeKalb: 160,820
- Fulton: 153,122
- Cobb: 124,025
- Gwinnett: 107,788
- Henry: 62,723
BY COMPARISON
More than 2 million people cast ballots before Election Day 2008, a nearly 400 percent increase over the 2004 presidential election. A total of 3.9 million Georgians voted in the 2008 presidential election.
About the Author
