• Who can vote absentee ballot by mail and how often do you have to apply?
• How can I obtain an absentee ballot?
• Can I vote in person prior to the actual election date?
• Can a voter who lives inside city limits also vote for the city election at the county office?
• How do I return my absentee ballot?
• Why does a disabled voter have to sign or make a mark on the absentee envelope when the reason for voting absentee is because of a disability?
• Can a relative of a disabled voter make an application for an absentee ballot for the disabled voter?
• What if a relative is residing temporarily outside Gwinnett County?
• What if a child is away at college?
• Can a ballot be picked up for an individual or someone else?
• Can anyone turn in a ballot?
• Are there deadlines for absentee applications and/or absentee ballots?
• Can the absentee ballot be sent express mail?
• The voter did not receive the ballot that was mailed. Can another be mailed?
• The voter made a mistake on the ballot. Can it be replaced?
• What happens if I have been issued an absentee ballot but decide I would rather vote at my precinct on Election Day?

Once received, the absentee ballot should be voted per the instructions. The absentee ballot comes with two envelopes. One Official Ballot (white) envelope and one envelope with an Oath of Elector (yellow or yellow stripe), printed on the backside, and that is preaddressed. Once the voter has made the ballot selections, the procedure is as follows:

• If there are multiple pages, ensure to include all pages that have been voted.
• Seal the ballot in the Official Ballot (white) envelope.
• Place that envelope inside the Oath of Elector (yellow or yellow striped) preaddressed, postage paid envelope.
• Seal the Oath of Elector (yellow or yellow striped) envelope.
• Complete and sign the oath.
• Mail or personally deliver the ballot the Elections Office or designated Advance Voting and/or drop box locations during hours of operation. Please note that Advance Voting and or drop box locations may change from election to election.
• Ballots may returned by the elector's mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, or an individual residing in the household of such elector.
• The absentee ballot of a disabled elector may be mailed or delivered by the caregiver of such disabled elector, regardless of whether such caregiver resides in such disabled elector's household. This is in addition to the family members that may also return voted absentee ballots.
• The absentee ballot of an elector who is in custody in a jail or other detention facility may be mailed or delivered by any employee of such jail or facility having custody of such elector.

Georgia law requires that the voter make a mark if unable to sign. Disabled or elderly voters may be asked to update their registration record to ensure the latest signature or mark is on file.

An adult relative of a disabled voter residing inside the county may apply for an absentee ballot, but shall not vote for the disabled voter. The disabled box on the application must be checked, and the relative making application must sign the application appropriately.

An adult relative of a person who is residing temporarily outside Gwinnett County may apply for an absentee ballot, but shall not vote on behalf of the voter. Additionally, the oath on the application must be completed.  

An adult relative may apply for an absentee ballot but shall not vote for a voter who is temporarily residing outside of Gwinnett County. However, the oath on the application must be completed and signed by the relative. The college student may download the application from GwinnettCounty.com, the Elections Office can fax, mail, or email an application to the college student or the student can request one online. The completed application can be returned by mail, email, or fax. If requested online, the voter does not need to send a physical copy.

No. Ballots must be mailed or voted electronically in office. Contact Voter Registrations and Elections for detailed information.

• Ballots may returned by the  elector's mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter,  niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law,  brother-in-law, sister-in-law, or an individual residing in the household of such elector
• The absentee ballot of a disabled elector may be mailed or delivered by the  caregiver of such disabled elector, regardless of whether such caregiver resides in such disabled elector's household.
• The absentee ballot of an elector who is in custody in a jail or other detention facility may be mailed or delivered by any employee of such jail or  facility having custody of such elector.
  
  

Applications: The last day for Gwinnett Voter Registrations and Elections to accept completed absentee applications is 5:00pm 11 days before the election. All applications will be processed in the order received.

Ballots: All voted ballots must be received by Gwinnett Voter Registrations and Elections by 7:00pm on Election Day. Any ballot received after 7:00pm on Election Day will not be counted, regardless of when the ballot was mailed or postmarked. Exceptions for Military and Overseas, please see instructions.

Ballots will not be accepted at polling locations for counting. Ballots may be turned into designated Advance in Person locations while they are in operation or one of the many ballot drop boxes located throughout the county. *Dropbox locations may change from election to election, always check the election schedule link for updated locations.

The last day to vote in advance in person is the Friday before an election. There is no advance voting on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday immediately prior the election.

Yes, if the voter pays the shipping charges, Voter Registrations and Elections will express mail the ballot if there is enough time to do so before any deadlines. This process requires a prepaid express mail (or overnight mail envelope) to Gwinnett Voter Registrations and Elections Beauty P. Baldwin Building, 455 Grayson Highway, Suite 200, Lawrenceville, GA  30046, or the account number to bill the charges to. Paying for expedited mail does not expedite the regular processing of the voter's absentee ballot application. The application will be processed in the same manner as all other applications received at the same time.

Yes, by law, if the ballot has not been received by the voter in a reasonable amount of time, the voter must complete an Affidavit of Lost Ballot form (see below) stating that the original ballot was not received. Once the Voter Registrations and Elections Office has received the form, a second ballot will be mailed, but only if requested.

If the voter goes into the Gwinnett Voter Registrations and Elections Beauty P. Baldwin Building, 455 Grayson Highway, Suite 200 in Lawrenceville or an Advance In Person voting location, no later than the Friday before Election Day and completes the form (see below), the voter can vote an electronic ballot in the immediately.

Cancellation of Absentee Ballot (English and Spanish)

The last day to vote in person is the Friday before an election. There is no advance voting on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday immediately prior the election.

Yes. By law, the voter must return all pages of the spoiled ballot to the Elections Office before a replacement can be provided either by mail or in person.

If mailed, the outside yellow or yellow striped envelope and all ballot pages must be clearly marked “Spoiled”. The voter must indicate if they wish to receive a second ballot or ballot set if multiple pages.

The voter may vote in person by turning in the spoiled ballot to the Voter Registrations and Elections Office or any Advance In Person voting location and the voter can choose to vote an electronic ballot then and there or have another ballot mailed, if time permits.

The last day to vote in person is the Friday before an election. There is no advance voting on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday immediately prior the election.

• If you have the ballot, you may take the absentee ballot to your polling location on Election Day, or an Advance in Person location while they are in operation, turn the ballot in to the poll manager, and vote in person. 
• If the ballot has been mailed, but has not been received at Voter Registrations and Elections, the voter must complete an Affidavit of Lost Ballot stating that the original ballot was not received or has been misplaced. The poll manager will contact the Voter Registrations and Elections for confirmation and voter will be allowed to vote in person at the Election Day polling location or Advance in Person location while they are in operation.
• If the ballot has been received and accepted by Voter Registrations and Elections, the ballot cannot be canceled.