Georgia: Do you need an ID to vote?
Georgia requires photo ID; a voter without it casts a provisional ballot that counts only if ID is shown within three days.
Accepted IDs include a Georgia driver's license, a free Georgia voter ID card, other state or federal photo ID cards, a U.S. passport, government employee photo IDs, and military or tribal photo IDs. Since July 1, 2025, a driver's license must be shown as the physical card, not a digital version. A voter without ID swears to their identity and votes provisionally, and the ballot counts only if the voter shows acceptable ID to the county registrar within three days after the election.
Conditions
- Photo ID from the list in O.C.G.A. 21-2-417(a); driver's license must be the physical card
- Without ID: provisional ballot, with ID due at the county registrar within three days after the election
What the law says
Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, if an elector is unable to produce any of the items of identification listed in subsection (a) of this Code section, he or she shall be allowed to vote a provisional ballot pursuant to Code Section 21-2-418 upon swearing or affirming that the elector is the person identified in the elector's voter certificate. Such provisional ballot shall only be counted if the registrars are able to verify current and valid identification of the elector as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section within the time period for verifying provisional ballots pursuant to Code Section 21-2-419.
Sources
- O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- HB 296 (2025), amending § 21-2-417(a), signed legislation Official · gov.georgia.gov
- O.C.G.A. § 21-2-419 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- Georgia.gov, voting in person Official · georgia.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Georgia Secretary of State, Elections Division
- Phone
- 404-656-2871
- Website
- sos.ga.gov
How bordering states compare
- Alabama Photo ID requiredAlabama requires photo ID; without it, a voter votes provisionally and must show ID by Friday, unless two poll officials identify them.
- Florida Photo ID requestedFlorida asks for photo ID; a voter without it votes provisionally, and the ballot counts without further steps if the voter is eligible.
- North Carolina Photo ID requestedNorth Carolina asks for photo ID, but a voter without one can sign an exception form at the polls and have the ballot counted.
- South Carolina Photo ID requestedSouth Carolina asks for photo ID, but a voter with a reasonable impediment can sign an affidavit at the polls and still vote.
- Tennessee Photo ID requiredTennessee requires a government photo ID to vote in person; without one, the vote counts only if ID is shown within two business days.