Absentee Ballot Applications Now Being Accepted For November Election

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Chattooga County voters who plan to vote by absentee ballot in the November 3 General and Special Election can now submit their applications.

According to Chattooga County Elections and Registration, absentee-by-mail applications must be received between August 17 and October 23, 2026.

The first absentee ballots will be mailed beginning October 5.

Completed absentee ballots must be received by the Registrar’s Office no later than 7 PM on Election Day, November 3. Officials say absentee ballots should not be turned in at Election Day polling locations. Ballots taken to a polling location on Election Day will be voided or cancelled and must instead be returned to the Registrar’s Office at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville.

Different deadlines apply to voters covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Voters with questions about absentee voting can contact Chattooga County Elections and Registration.

Chattooga County to Begin Early Processing of Absentee Ballots March 9

Chattooga County Elections officials will begin the early processing of Absentee by Mail ballots on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Registrar’s Office, 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. The process is open to the public.

Early processing does not mean votes are being counted early. Instead, election workers carefully remove absentee ballots from their outer envelopes and prepare them for scanning. During this step, ballots are scanned into the system, but they are not tabulated or totaled.

Officials emphasize that actual vote tabulation will not occur until after the polls close on Election Day, in accordance with Georgia election law. The early processing step helps ensure results can be reported more efficiently once voting officially ends.

Residents who wish to observe the process may attend at the Registrar’s Office.