Ways to Vote

Absentee by Mail

Voters can download and print an Absentee Ballot Application (PDF)    from the Secretary of State’s website or request an application from the Board of Elections Office.

A request for an absentee ballot may be received no earlier than 78 days prior to date of the primary or election, or runoff  election. No reason is required when requesting a ballot by mail. The last day an absentee ballot can be mailed to a voter is the Friday prior to the election.

The request for an absentee ballot must be in writing and include the following:

  • Address
  • Date of birth
  • The date of the election for which the voter is requesting a ballot
  • Voter's name
  • The voter's signature

Counties must have have at least one absentee ballot drop boxes. Newton Counties "DROPBOX" is located in the front office of the Board of Elections Office. ( Open to the public during advance voting weeks 8:00 am - 5:00 pm ONLY!) 


Exception :  During an emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Code Section 38-3-51, drop boxes may be located outside the office of the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk or outside of locations at which advance voting  is taking place, subject to the other limitations of this Code section.  

During any Primary elections, the request must also state the voter’s party preference.

Mail-in Absentee Ballot

To be timely received, an application for an absentee-by-mail ballot shall be received by the board  
of registrars or absentee ballot clerk no later than 11 days prior to the primary, election,  
or runoff. For advance voting in person, the application shall be made within the time  
period set forth in subsection (d) of Code Section 21-2-385

 Board of Elections Office at:
1113 Usher Street
Suite 103
P.O. Box 1274
Covington, GA 30015
Fax: 770-784-2057

elections@co.newton.ga.us

Early or Advance Voting

Beginning on the 4th Monday prior to Election Day, voters can cast a ballot in person at the Board of Elections Office during regular business hours. The office is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voters must complete and sign an application and provide one of the six acceptable forms of identification. View Identification Requirements. No reason is required to cast a ballot in person.

The last day to vote in office at the Board of Elections is the Friday prior to any election. After that day, voters would need to go to their assigned polling location on Election Day in order to vote.

Election Day

On Election Day, voters can cast a ballot at their polling location between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters will be required to present one of the six acceptable forms of identification. View Identification Requirements. Voters can visit the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page to locate their polling place.

Voters who do not have proper identification will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot that will only be accepted if the voter provides the required identification to the Board of Elections and Registration Office within the time period for verifying provisional ballots.

If a person votes by mail, identification information is required to be provided with the absentee ballot application.  ( Per SB202)