Absentee ballot voting opens for Georgia primary

Published 9:22 am Tuesday, June 6, 2006

ATLANTA — Absentee ballots are available for the July 18 primary in county elections offices, Secretary of State Cathy Cox announced on Monday.

Cox, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, issued a statement reminding voters that there are new, looser rules that will permit more voters to cast ballots by mail.

Previously, Georgia voters had to provide a legally pemissible reason to vote by absentee ballot. But under a new law, any voter who wants to can vote by mail. As a result, elections officials are expecting a surge in absentee ballots this year.

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained on the Secretary of States website www.sos.state.ga.us or by contacting local county elections offices.

Completed absentee ballot application can submitted to the county registrar by mail, by fax or by hand delivery by the voter.

In-person absentee voting is also available beginning this week at county registration sites throughout the state.

All mail-in absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on election day in order to be counted.