I already voted early for the primary so I don’t need to vote now...or do I?

Yes, you still need to vote! If you voted in March, your vote will still count for the Presidential Preference Primary and that won’t be on the ballot you receive. However many important races will be on the ballot such as for Senate, Congress, Sheriff, Judges, and many other local races. And if you didn’t get a chance to vote in the Presidential Primary, it will appear on your ballot in addition to the other races.

Will my ballot include Spanish?

Yes! The applications were not in Spanish because they were sent by the Secretary of State’s office and not by Gwinnett County. The Ballots will include Spanish as required in Gwinnett. I haven't completed my absentee ballot application yet.

When is the last possible point at which I could submit it and reasonably receive my ballot?

There are a lot of variables here and it is not wise to wait....at all. Due to the processing and delivery time, we recommend that if you haven't submitted your application two weeks out from Election Day that you make a safety plan along with your plan to vote in-person. We encourage you to make the best decision for your circumstances and suggest that you take into account possible mailing delays.

It's been a while since I returned my absentee ballot application. The Secretary of State's website says that my ballot was mailed two weeks ago...where is it?

The Elections Office experienced an unprecedented number of applications for absentee ballots and are still working through a backlog. Normally, they process applications within several days. Recently, it has been taking a week or more. The ballots are being mailed to voters by an out of state vendor, so it is not uncommon for it to take 7-10 days to receive the ballot after it is issued by the Elections Office. Check the status on the MVP website and if you have any questions or concerns contact the Gwinnett Elections Office or the Georgia Voter Protection Hotline.

The absentee ballot instructions say to insert the ballot inside an envelope. Where is the white envelope?

The instructions with the ballot say to place it in the white envelope first. Actually, there is just a white piece of paper to fold over the ballot. Do not staple it.

When is the last day I can return my completed ballot by mail?

Ballots MUST be in the possession of the elections office by 7pm on Election Day or else it will be voided. Postmark dates are not relevant in any way to the acceptance of your ballot. If you have not returned your ballot by June 2nd (at least a week out from Election Day), we recommend that you place it in a Dropbox or deliver it in person at your polling precinct. This date is just a roundabout estimation. We encourage you to make the best decision for your circumstances and suggest that you take into account possible mailing delays.

What happens if I don't receive my absentee ballot in time?

Whether you change your mind about voting absentee or do not receive your ballot in time, you still have the option of voting in-person by cancelling your ballot. Just go to the appropriate voting location and complete an affidavit to this effect, you do NOT need to have the ballot with you to cancel it.

Is it safe to vote in person?

These times are scary for us all. We recommend voting by mail as the safest way to vote. If voting by mail is not possible for some reason, we recommend that you take the safety precautions outlined by the CDC when leaving your home. We also recommend that you vote early. Voting machines will be regularly sanitized, but it is expected that in-person voters practice social distancing, which includes but is not limited to staying 6 feet away from others.

If I wait until Election Day (June 9) can I vote at any of the election locations?

NO. In fact, we expect many polling precincts to be closed and reassigned due to a shortage in poll workers and concerns for everyone's safety. We are recommending that you vote early by mail or in-person--a time where we have fixed locations available, as well as, the option to submit your ballot via Dropbox. If Election Day voting is your only option, confirm your voting precinct on the Secretary of State's website (www.mvp.sos.ga.gov) before going.

I voted early, in-person, and the Secretary of State's website reports that I filed an absentee ballot. Did they mess something up?

No. Voting in person, by mail, or by drop box is categorized as "absentee voting."