WHO CAN I VOTE FOR?

To vote, you complete and submit a ballot. A ballot lists every Candidate who wants to serve as an elected official. When candidates Run for Office they tell voters what they would do if elected.

• Everything you need to know about your ballot!

• Webinar on understanding your ballot.

Most candidates belong to one of the major Political Parties. They belong to the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Many campaigns also include candidates for the Libertarian party.  Candidates from different parties usually have different positions on important issues. Make sure to know who you will vote for before you fill in the ballot!

Government has different levels: county, state, and federal. You have the right to vote for officials at every level.   

• In your county, you can vote for officials such as county commissioners,  sheriffs, and judges. If you live in a city, the mayor is another Elected Official you can vote for.

• You can also vote for officials who have responsibility for the whole state of Georgia, such as the Governor, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the School Superintendent. The Secretary of State is responsible for how elections are organized in Georgia. The list describes the responsibilities of each office.

  You can also vote for Georgia Senators and Members of the Georgia House of Representatives. Georgia Senators and Members meet in the Assembly in Atlanta to make laws for the state of Georgia. 

• At the federal level, you can vote for President and Vice President as well as Georgia's representatives in Congress (two Senators and 14 Representatives). Congress makes laws for the whole country.

Each government office at every level has a Term, or length of time the elected official serves. Not every government official runs in every election. 

A US President’s term is four years. Choosing the President is different from choosing candidates for other offices. In the General Election, voters choose the candidate they want to be President. After the election, the Electoral College has the final word on who will actually be President. You can find out how this works by reading about the Electoral College in the Glossary.

Voting gives you the chance to choose officials who will work for your issues and concerns.

As you learn about candidates, keep the following guidelines from RevUp Georgia in mind:

• No candidate is perfect.

• Every candidate will have to work with others to make new laws.

• Vote for candidates who will most likely support your issues and concerns.

WHO SHOULD I VOTE FOR?

Learning about candidates takes a bit of research. Start by talking with people you know and trust. Ask questions. Online you can find a great deal of information.

Branch Politics is an organization that provides Georgia voters with trustworthy information about candidates. To use the Branch website, type in your Georgia address to see a list of the candidates on your ballot. You will also find information about each candidate’s positions on various issues. At the Branch site, you can choose the candidates you want to vote for. If you print your choices, you are allowed to bring this list when you vote in person!

Another reliable source of information about candidates is BallotPedia.

Some organizations, like the League of Women Voters and the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities GCDD, have meetings, called forums, in which candidates from different parties answer voters’ questions.

Make sure to use your Voting Plan to keep track of candidates you want to vote for!