2026 Voting Information

As a college student, you can choose to vote in the county of your home state or in Chatham County, Georgia where SCAD Savannah is located,. Here are some things to consider as you decide::

• Either option is legal
  
• Determine if you're able to travel to your home county on November 3 or during early voting (there are no digital options for voting)
  
• Find out what’s required to get an absentee ballot in your home state
  
• Consider which issues or races matter most
  
• Confirm that there is no impact on financial aid, scholarships, or dependency status for insurance

Typically, financial aid, scholarships, and dependency status are determined by factors such as your driver's license, car registration, and tax filings. However, if you have any concerns that your out-of-state financial aid, scholarships, or dependency status for health insurance may be impacted, you should contact your insurance company or SCAD's registrar to confirm (registrar@scad.edu, 912-525-5800).

If you registered to vote in Georgia, but the address used at registration isn't in Chatham County, you will need to return to your home county to vote in person on November 3 or during early voting.

Check vote.org/early-voting-calendar to find out when your state offers early voting.

Be sure to check your registration status before your state's registration deadline in case you need to re-register to vote or make changes.

• Visit vote.org
  
• Select 'Check Your Registration'
  
• Enter the following information:
  • Name
  • HOME Street Address
  • Date of Birth
  • Email Address
    
• Select 'Check Your Registration'

You can also visit vote.gov, or nass.org/can-I-vote to check your voter registration.

REGISTER IN ANY STATE

To register to vote, visit vote.org, vote.gov, or nass.org/can-I-vote and select your state to navigate to your state's voter registration page.

REGISTER IN CHATHAM COUNTY 

 You can register to vote in Chatham County online, in person, by mail, or by fax.

Online

• Visit the Georgia Secretary of State website
  
• Scroll to 'Not Registered to Vote?' and click on 'Register'
  
• Complete the online voter registration
  • You will need a Georgia driver's license or DDS issued identification card to complete your online registration
    
  • It will ask for your driver's license number which is located near the top center and labeled 'DL NO.'
    
  • Driver's license or DDS issued identification must be valid and have a signature on file with the Department of Driver Services (DDS)

In Person, By Mail, or By Fax 

• Locate a paper Georgia voter registration application
  • The SCAD Student Center has voter registration forms
    
  • Visit mvp.sos.ga.gov or scroll down to print the State Of Georgia Application For Voter Registration
    
  • Go to:
    • Chatham County Board of Registrars
      1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite E
      
    • Chatham County Administration
      124 Bull Street, Suite 200, Savannah, GA 31401
      
    • Chatham County Public Library
      Various Locations
      
• Fill out the paper registration with your information
  
• Submit in one of the following ways:
  • Submit in person at the Chatham County Board of Registrars
    1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite E
    
  • When you go in person, you will need one of the following for identification and proof of residency:
    • Copy of a current and valid photo ID
      
    • Copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address
      
    • Georgia driver's license
      
    • Last four digits of your social security number
      
    • License and SSN must be verified in a Georgia database indicating that Georgia is your primary residence
      
    • Your SCAD ID does not count as a valid photo ID because SCAD is a private institution, not a state institution

• Mail to the Georgia Secretary of State
  Secretary of State State of Georgia PO Box 105325 Atlanta, GA 30348-9562
  • Enclose a copy of your ID if you are registering to vote in Georgia for the first time 

• Fax to the Chatham County Board of Registrars
  Fax:  912-790-1519
  
  • Call or email the Chatham County Board of Registrars at 912-790-1520 or voter@chathamcounty.org to confirm what additional documentation should be faxed

For additional information visit voter.chathamcountyga.gov/HowToRegister.

Set a reminder for 4 weeks after you register to check your registration status at vote.org!

To register to vote in Chatham County, you will need to use your address at SCAD. Both the online and paper applications allow you to include your residence address and your mailing address. It is important to include both addresses on your registration.

Format your addresses as shown:

RESIDENCE ADDRESS

County: CHATHAM

Street Number: 201

Street Name: W BOUNDARY ST

Street Name 2: DANCE AT THE HIVE

Apt#/Loft#/Unit#: D100A

Postal City: SAVANNAH

State: GA

Zip Code: 31401

MAILING ADDRESS

Street Number: 22

Street Name 1 / PO Box: E LATHROP AVE

Street Name 2: DANCE AT THE HIVE

Apt#/Loft#/Unit#: PMN 000000

City: SAVANNAH

State/FPO/APO: GA (GEORGIA)

Zip Code: 31401

Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

When completing your online registration, unclick the box next to 'Mailing Address same as Residence Address' in order to enter both addresses.

You can view a visual example of how to fill out the online voter registration addresses below.

People move all the time, so it is common to have to register in a new county or state. 

To transfer your voter registration to Chatham County, complete a new voter registration with your SCAD residence and mailing addresses. The new registration with the new address supersedes your previous registration with your home/old address. Although there are stopgaps in place to ensure people only have one active voter registration, many states ask that you contact them to cancel your old registration.

You can find your state's cancellation form and local election office contact information at eac.gov/voters/voter-registration-cancellations. 

Before you go to vote, you should visit vote.org or nass.org/can-I-vote and check your voter registration in both locations to confirm that the old registration has been canceled and that you are registered in the new location.

To vote absentee in Georgia, follow the instructions given at georgia.gov/vote-absentee-ballot. They provide information on how to register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and return your absentee ballot.

You will need to include a copy or photo of one of the following to request an absentee ballot:

• A Georgia driver's license or state issued ID
  
• If you don't have a GA driver's license, you can use one of the following:
  • United States passport
    
  • Georgia voter identification card
    
  • Photo ID issued by the state or US government, military photo ID, or state or US employee photo ID
    
  • Tribal photo identification card
    

         OR

• One of the following that shows your name and SCAD address:
  • Current utility bill
    
  • Bank statement
    
  • Paycheck
    
  • Government check
    
  • Other government document

A Georgia Voter ID Card is not required to vote. It is a form of identifitcation made available if you don't have the required identification or documentation to request an absentee ballot or vote in person. You can request a free Georgia voter ID card at the Chatham County Board of Registrars or Chatham County Department of Driver Services.

To request a Georgia voter ID card, you will need one of the following:

• A photo identity document or approved non-photo identity document that includes full legal name and date of birth 
  
• Documentation showing the voter's date of birth 
  
• Evidence that the applicant is a registered voter in the State of Georgia
  
• Documentation showing the applicant's name and residential address
  

Visit one of the following locations to request your free Georgia voter ID card for Chatham County:

Chatham County Board of Registrars

1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite E

Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Chatham County Department of Driver Services

1117 Eisenhower Dr, Suite B

Tuesday - Friday: 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM

To find out how to vote absentee in your state, visit vote.org to request an absentee ballot, view your state's deadlines, and find out which of the following categories applies to your state:

• Automatic Mail Ballot
  You do not need to request an absentee ballot - every registered voter is mailed one
  
• No Excuse Required
  You need to request an absentee ballot, but you don’t have to provide a reason for needing one
  
• Excuse Required
  You need to request an absentee ballot and you must provide a valid reason for needing one (such as attending college)

It may be possible for a family member to turn in your absentee ballot, but you should confirm the voting law for your county.