By Logan C. Ritchie, contributor 

DeKalb County, GA — March 7 is the first day DeKalb County voters can request an absentee ballot for the May 24 primary election.

New voting laws may surprise voters who have not cast a ballot since the last governor’s race in 2018. SB202 requires additional steps to securing and submitting an absentee ballot. A new version was created in 2021.

To request an absentee ballot, voters must use the official application with proof of accepted ID. The list of accepted ID includes a Georgia driver’s license, state-issued ID card, U.S. passport and others. The complete list can be found here.

Absentee ballot drop box locations have not yet been announced. Ballots can be returned to the VRE office, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections office at 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA, 30032, offers free voter IDs. Voters in DeKalb County can register to vote, update and verify voter registration on a no-contact kiosk. Voters can print precinct cards and other election-related information.

ID is also required to vote in person.

Qualifying starts March 7 and continues until March 11, so candidates may be added as late as next week.

On the May 24 ballot in DeKalb County:

– DeKalb Board of Education Districts 2, 4, and 6

– DeKalb County Commissioners Districts 2, 3 and 7

– DeKalb State Court Judges

– Stonecrest mayoral election

– Special Election City of Atlanta and City of Lithonia

On the May 24 ballot statewide:

– Governor

– U.S. Sentator

– Attorney General

– Secretary of State

– State Representatives and State Senators

– Insurance Commissioner, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Agriculture, State School Superintendent, Public Service Commission

– Supreme Court of Georgia

– Judges from appeals court, superior court and state court

Early voting will begin on May 2.

For more on the process and procedure of voting this year, visit Georgia Voter Guide.

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