Fulton County Department of Registration & Elections office hours provide an opportunity for voters to return their absentee ballots in person by the November 5 deadline.  

During Fulton County’s in-person ballot return hours on Saturday, November 2, a total of 105 absentee ballots were returned. All four offices of the Department of Registration & Elections will be open and available to receive absentee ballots on Sunday, November 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, November 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and on Tuesday, November 5 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Georgia’s deadline to submit an application for an absentee ballot for the November 5 election was Friday, October 25. The Fulton County Department of Registration & Elections accepted a total of 40,435 absentee ballot applications for this election. Georgia law allows for voters to return absentee ballots by mail or in person.

In a press release, the U.S. Postal Service recommended mailing absentee ballots by Tuesday, October 29. Voters who submitted absentee ballot applications on or near Georgia’s October 25 absentee ballot application deadline are unlikely to have received their absentee ballots by the USPS October 29 recommended mailing deadline. Many Georgia residents have recently reported delays in mail service.  Thus, in-person delivery of absentee ballots is a preferred option for many voters.

Georgia’s advance voting period ended on Friday, November 1. During the advance voting period, voters could bring absentee ballots to seven designated drop boxes located inside advance voting locations across Fulton County. Now that advance voting has ended, drop boxes are unavailable, but voters may continue to return absentee ballots in person to offices of the Department of Registration & Elections.

All voters returning absentee ballots in person to the Department of Registration & Elections must sign an affidavit indicating whether they are returning the ballot for themselves or an authorized family member, household member or person in their care, as provided by O.C.G.A. 21-2-385(a).  

Fulton County elections leadership has clarified with all staff that observers are permitted to watch the absentee ballot return process.

Fulton County voters returning their ballots and observers must remain in the lobby. Elections staff will greet voters and work with them to complete their affidavits, and will secure the ballots.  Officers will be onsite at all Election offices for the protection of voters and staff.

Fulton County voters who requested an absentee ballot but have yet not received it should contact the Department of Registration & Elections as soon as possible. Voters may choose to cancel an absentee ballot request and vote in person on Election Day as long as they have not yet returned their absentee ballot. Under no circumstances may voters cast more than one ballot.

For more information, visit www.fultonelections.com