TO: First Time Voters of Georgia

 

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) was passed by the United States Congress and signed into effect by the President in October 2002. This new federal law requires Georgia to implement various changes in the election and voter registration process before the 2004 Federal election.
 

Although you have already registered to vote and become a certified elector of Georgia, you will be required to meet the following identification requirement before being allowed to cast your vote. That is to identify those persons who register in the state of Georgia for the first time by US mail. These persons are required to provide identification either: (1) at the time they mail in their registration application, (2) when they vote absentee or (3) when they vote at the precinct. If a person has previously registered in any county in the state, the person is not considered to be a first-time registrant. At this time, the identification items that will be accepted for these first-time registrants are:

(1) A valid GEORGIA driver's license;
(2) A valid identification card issued by a branch, department, agency, or entity of the State of Georgia, any other state, or the United States authorized by law to issue personal identification;
(3) A valid UNITED STATES passport;
(4) A valid GEORGIA license to carry a pistol or revolver;
(5) A valid UNITED STATES military identification card;
(6) A certified copy of the elector's birth certificate;
(7) A valid social security card;
(8) Certified naturalization documentation;
(9) A certified copy of court records showing adoption, name or sex change;
(10) A valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the elector and issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the UNITED STATES government, this state, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
(11) A valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the elector and issued by an employer of the elector in the ordinary course of such employer's business;
(12) A valid pilot's license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration or other authorized agency of the UNITED STATES; or
(13) A valid student identification card containing a photograph of the elector from any public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located with in the STATE OF GEORGIA.

 

At this time you have the option of mailing a copy of any of the above identification to this office. If this is not done, be prepared to show one of the acceptable forms of identification when you go to the poll on election day to cast your vote. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO CAST YOUR VOTE WITHOUT ONE OF THESE DOCUMENTS. You will not be allowed to sign an oath swearing or affirming that you are the person identified on the elector's voter certificate. Again let me emphasize you will be a first time voter in the state of GEORGIA.

 

Mail to: Coweta County Voter Registration

22 East Broad Street

Newnan GA 30263

Phone 770-254-2615

What Do I Need To Do If I Want To Vote?

Registering to vote in Georgia is a simple process.  There are five (5) requirements:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be a legal resident of the county
• Be at least 17 1/2- years of age to register and 18 to vote
• NOT be serving a sentence for a conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude
• Have NOT been found mentally incompetent by a judge

If you meet these five requirements, you can register to vote at any of the following locations:

• PUBLIC LIBRARY
• GOVERNMENT REVENUE OFFICES
• DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
• COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY
• RECRUITMENT OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
• IN PERSON: AT THE VOTER REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, 22 EAST BROAD STREET, NEWNAN, GEORGIA 30263
• BY MAIL: CALL 770-254-2615 TO HAVE AN APPLICATION MAILED TO YOUR HOME, OR YOU CAN PICK UP AN APPLICATION AT ANY COWETA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
• DOWNLOAD: YOU CAN NOW DOWNLOAD A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM FROM THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE www.sos.state.ga.us/elections

When Can I Register To Vote Or Change My Address?

You may register to vote or change your address any time. However, if you are not registered to vote, you must register at least 30 days before an election to vote in that election. If you move, you must notify the Registrar's Office of your change of address.

Updating Your Registration

You must update your registration if you:

• have moved
• have changed your name.

A precinct card will be mailed to you in approximately 30 days of receipt of the registration application.

 

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Absentee Voting

 

You may vote by absentee ballot for any of the following reasons:

 

• Physical disability
• Election Official
• Public Safety Official
• Required to be away from your precinct all day
• U.S. citizen permanently residing outside of the United States
• Constant care giver
• Religious holiday
• 75 years of age or older

How To Apply for an Absentee Ballot

The application for an absentee ballot must be made to the Coweta County Registrar's Office, 22 East Broad Street, Newnan, Georgia 30263 either in person; by mail (to the same address); or by fax (770-254-2606).  The application is not required to be in any particular form and can be a letter. The application MUST contain the following information:

Name as registered

Address as registered

Mailing address

Identity of the primary, election or runoff in which the voter desires to vote

Reason for requesting the ballot

If application is made by someone other than the voter, the name and relationship to the voter must be included

Sign the application

 

You can now DOWNLOAD an application for absentee ballot from the Georgia Secretary of State's Office: 

www.sos.state.ga.us/elections

 

Identification Required To Vote

 

You must present proper identification at any polling place prior to voting.

You may use any one of the following:

 

• A valid Georgia driver's license;
• A valid identification card;
• A valid United States passport;
• A valid employee identification card containing photograph;
• A valid Georgia hunting or fishing license;
• A valid Georgia license to carry a pistol or revolver;
• A valid pilot's license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration;
• A valid United States military identification card;
• A certified copy of birth certificate;
• A valid social security card;
• Certified naturalization documentation; or
• A certified copy of court records showing adoption, name, or sex change.

 

If you are unable to produce any of the items of identification listed, you may sign a statement under oath swearing or affirming that you are the person identified on the elector's voter certificate.  Falsely swearing or affirming such statement under oath shall be punishable as a felony.