The following article, the first in a series, was distributed by the League of Women Voters:
A weekly series explaining, step by step, how Georgia elections work
Sixty-one years ago today, the Voting Rights Act was signed into law, a promise that every eligible American’s voice would count. This year, as Georgians prepare to choose a governor, a United States senator, and leaders in every county from Whitfield to Fulton to Colquitt, the League of Women Voters of Georgia is marking that anniversary by launching “How Georgia Votes,” a weekly series that walks through exactly how an election runs in this state — from the moment you register to the moment the results are certified.
Each week between now and November 3, the League will publish a plain-language explanation of one piece of the process: how to register and check your registration, who runs elections in your county, how every Georgia ballot produces a paper record, how voting equipment is tested before a single vote is cast, and how the count is audited after the polls close. No jargon, no politics, just how it works, because Georgians deserve to see the machinery of their own democracy up close.
“Elections in Georgia are run by our neighbors in county offices in Dalton and Moultrie just as in Atlanta, and the process they follow is careful, layered, and open to public view,” said Jackie Killings, president of the League of Women Voters of Georgia. “When voters can see each step for themselves, confidence follows. That confidence is what carries people to the polls.”
The series begins next week with everything Georgians need to know about voter registration. The deadline to register for the November 3 general election is Monday, October 5. Voters can check their registration status at any time at the Georgia My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov or through Vote411.org.
About the League of Women Voters of Georgia
The League of Women Voters of Georgia is a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League never supports or opposes candidates or political parties. Through roughly 15 local leagues across the state, volunteers register voters, host candidate forums and provide trusted election information through Vote411.org. Learn more at lwvga.org.