Q&A on the News

Q: Given the push for last-minute voter registration in the 6th Congressional District, what are the requirements for eligibility? What’s the process for determining that an applicant is actually eligible to vote? —Gary May, Newnan

A: To register to vote in Georgia, an individual must meet the minimum requirements. According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, individuals must be a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of the county in which they are registering. They also must must be at least 17.5 years of age at the time of registration and 18 years of age by the time they vote. They also cannot be serving a sentence for conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude and cannot have been found mentally incompetent by a judge. On the registration form, applicants must swear or affirm with their signature that they are eligible to vote based on those requirements.

According to the Georgia voter registration form, federal law requires individuals registering to vote to provide a full Georgia driver’s license number or a state-issued ID. If they do not have either, they must provide the last four digits of their Social Security number. The Social Security number will be used to compare with other state agency databases, the form states.

Applicants also must show a current photo ID. If applying by mail, they must submit a copy of “a current and valid photo ID, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address.” Election officials check that information to confirm residence and eligibility. Applicants are not officially registered to vote until their application is approved.