DeKalb County Now Offering Free Voter ID Cards

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — DeKalb County election leaders are encouraging residents to get a free voter identification card from the county, especially those without a valid Georgia driver's license or other state ID.

The free ID card offering comes after the passage of Senate Bill 202, Georgia's new voting law. The new law eliminates signature matching on absentee ballots, and instead requires absentee voters to provide a valid form of ID for identity verification.

“We are committed to the voters of DeKalb County, and will be actively communicating how the voting experience may be different for some voters with the passage of SB202,” said Erica Hamilton, DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (VRE) director, in a news release. “For voters who do not have the appropriate identification, the time is now to tackle this so that voting is a breeze during the next election.”

Registered DeKalb voters will need to visit the office at 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur to obtain a voter ID card, and bring the following:

• a photo ID document; OR
• a non-photo ID document that includes full legal name, birth date, proof of voter registration; AND
• a document reflecting full legal name and address in DeKalb County.

Voters can also visit the state Department of Driver Services' website here to start the online process of obtaining a state-issued voter ID card. The same documentation is required.

“DeKalb County is working on a number of awareness initiatives to ensure our voters understand the changes in the new law,” Hamilton said. “We’re excited to see voter enthusiasm and civic engagement continue into our 2021 elections."

For more information on upcoming elections, visit the DeKalb Votes website here. The elections office in Decatur is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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