Cobb voters must return absentee ballots by 7 p.m. Thursday

The deadline to request an absentee ballot in Georgia has passed.

Voters who have a ballot at home need to check the outer oath envelope carefully. The state says missing information on this envelope is a primary reason ballots are rejected. Voters must enter their Georgia driver’s license or state ID number. If they have neither, they must affirm that fact and provide the last four digits of their Social Security number. If they have none of those, they must include a copy of an acceptable ID.

Election officials compare the data on the envelope to registration records. A wrong date of birth or ID number can delay processing or lead to rejection. The state website notes that a missing signature is one of the most common errors. Voters must sign the envelope to validate their vote. They should also mark the date correctly on the ballot itself.

The county elections office must receive the ballot by 7 p.m. on election night, Nov. 3. A postmark does not count for Georgia voters. Military and overseas voters who post their ballot on Election Day must ensure it arrives within three days. Most local voters should not rely on the mail system to deliver their ballot in time. If a ballot is rejected, the county office will contact the voter with a document to correct the envelope.

Residents can return their ballot to an indoor drop box at an early voting site. These boxes are only accessible during early voting hours, which end Friday, Oct. 30. Voters can find specific drop box locations by contacting their county registrar. Those who miss the drop box window can hand-deliver their ballot to the county registrar’s office during regular business hours. Voters registered as disabled can have a caregiver or a household member deliver it for them.

Voters who change their mind and want to vote in person should take the unused absentee ballot to the polls. Poll workers can cancel the paper ballot, allowing the voter to use the machine. Once a completed absentee ballot is returned, the voter cannot switch to an in-person vote. Residents can verify their ballot status on the Georgia My Voter Page under the Absentee Ballot Request Information section.

Early voting ends Friday, Oct. 30. The election is scheduled for Nov. 3.