Georgia · General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Your ballot, explained.
All three statewide constitutional amendments in plain words, every candidate for federal, statewide and legislative office. County and local races are on your sample ballot. No endorsements. Every claim links to its source.
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Heard this? Here are the facts
Each claim gets a plain status: True, False, or Promised, not law.
- Heard this? "In Georgia you need a driver's license to vote." False
The facts: You need a photo ID, but many kinds count: a Georgia driver's license (even an expired one), a free voter ID card from your county registrar or Driver Services, a U.S. passport, a military or tribal photo ID, a government employee ID, or a Georgia public college student ID. source: sos.ga.gov (Secretary of State) - Heard this? "You can still register and vote on the same day in Georgia." False
The facts: Georgia has no same-day registration. The deadline for Nov. 3 was Oct. 5. You can check whether you are registered on the My Voter Page. source: sos.ga.gov (Secretary of State) - Heard this? "A mailed absentee ballot counts as long as it's postmarked by Election Day." False
The facts: Your absentee ballot must reach your county election office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Requests are due Oct. 23. Only military and overseas voters get three extra days if their ballot is postmarked by Election Day. source: sos.ga.gov (Secretary of State) source: sos.ga.gov (Secretary of State) - Heard this? "If you were ever convicted of a felony, you can never vote again in Georgia." False
The facts: You can register and vote again once you finish your whole sentence, including any probation, parole and fines you owe. You need to register again. source: sos.ga.gov (Secretary of State) - Heard this? "You need a photo ID to vote by mail too." True
The facts: Your absentee ballot request must include your Georgia driver's license or state ID number. If you have neither, include a copy of another accepted photo ID, or a document with your name and address, such as a utility bill or bank statement. source: sos.ga.gov (Secretary of State) - Heard this? "You'll get $5,000 after the election." Promised, not law
The facts: On Sept. 9, 2026 the President promised every adult $5,000, a "Trump Dividend", if Republicans keep both the House and the Senate. It is a campaign promise that depends on the election results; no law or payment exists today. Congress would have to pass it, and AP estimates it would cost over $1 trillion. Is this legal? Experts disagree. Richard Painter, chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, wrote: "No, Mr. President you can't offer voters $5000 if the Republicans win the House and Senate." Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner called it a completed crime under the federal vote-buying law (18 U.S.C. 597). Election attorney John Day told AP it is legal because it would go to everyone regardless of how they vote: "This is a campaign promise." Rice University political scientist Mark Jones: "It's unsavory, but it's legal." Your ballot is secret, so no payment can depend on how you personally vote. source: kold.com source: internazionale.it source: newsweek.com source: ibtimes.co.uk source: katv.com - Heard this? "Someone can legally pay you to vote, or to vote a certain way." False
The facts: No. Paying or offering to pay anyone to vote or to register to vote in a federal election is a federal crime (52 U.S.C. 10307(c)). Accepting the payment is a crime too. source: law.cornell.edu - Heard this? "The $1 million-a-day giveaway in 2024 paid people for voting." False
The facts: That contest was open only to registered voters in seven swing states, and entering meant signing a petition, not voting. The group's lawyer told a Pennsylvania court the winners were "not chosen by chance". The judge let it continue. source: aljazeera.com
Checked against official sources, court records and news reports. We update this as new claims go around.
Key dates
- The registration deadline was Monday, October 5, 2026. Georgia does not have same-day registration.
- Early voting: Tuesday, October 13 through Friday, October 30, including Saturdays October 17 and 24. Some counties also open Sundays October 18 and 25.
- Absentee ballot requests are due Friday, October 23. Your absentee ballot must reach your county by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bring a photo ID.
- If no candidate gets more than half the votes, the runoff is Tuesday, December 1.
Dates from the Secretary of State's 2026 election calendar . Check your registration and sample ballot on the Georgia My Voter Page (your sample ballot) .
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