Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Columbus. Muscogee County voters can cast a ballot at any of five early voting sites, no matter where they live in the county.

Here's everything you need to know: where to go, when, what to bring, and what you'll be voting on.

Early voting at a glance

• Dates: Tuesday, Oct. 13, through Friday, Oct. 30
• Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• No voting Monday, Oct. 12, because of the federal Columbus Day holiday
• Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at your assigned precinct

Where to vote early

You can vote at any of these sites during early voting:

Open the full early voting period (Oct. 13-30):

Open the final week only (Oct. 24-30):

Important: Valley Healthcare and Blackmon Road are not open during the first week and a half of early voting. If you plan to vote there, wait until Saturday, Oct. 24.

Weekend voting: Georgia law requires counties to offer early voting on two Saturdays, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 for this election. Call the elections office at 706-653-4392 to confirm weekend hours before you go.

Tip: Early voting lines are usually longest on the first day and the last few days. Mid-week, mid-morning visits are often quickest.

What to bring: photo ID

Georgia requires a photo ID to vote in person. Any of these will work:

• A Georgia driver's license, even if it's expired
• Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID
• A valid U.S. passport
• A valid U.S. military photo ID
• A valid tribal photo ID
• A valid employee photo ID from a federal, state, county or city government agency

No ID? Georgia offers a free voter ID card. You can get one at the Muscogee County Elections & Registration Office, 3111 Citizens Way. Bring a document showing your full legal name and date of birth, proof that you're registered to vote, and something showing your name and home address.

Voting by mail

• Deadline to request an absentee ballot: Friday, Oct. 23. Apply online through the Georgia Secretary of State's website.
• Deadline to return it: Your completed ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Mail it early.
• Drop box: There's a ballot drop box at the City Services Center, 3111 Citizens Way. It's available only during early voting hours and closes at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.

Am I registered? Where's my precinct?

The deadline to register for this election was Oct. 5. To check your registration, see your sample ballot or find your Election Day polling place, visit Georgia's My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov.

What's on your ballot

Columbus voters already chose a new mayor and settled the city council and school board races in May and June. The Nov. 3 ballot is all about state and federal offices, plus three proposed changes to the Georgia Constitution.

U.S. Senate

• Jon Ossoff (Democrat, incumbent)
• Mike Collins (Republican)

U.S. House

Columbus is split between two congressional districts. Your sample ballot shows which one you're in.

• District 2, which covers most of Columbus: Sanford Bishop (Democrat, incumbent) vs. Matt Day (Republican)
• District 3, which covers parts of north Columbus: Brian Jack (Republican, incumbent) vs. Maura Keller (Democrat)

Governor

Gov. Brian Kemp can't run again because of term limits, so Georgia will elect a new governor.

• Keisha Lance Bottoms (Democrat)
• Rick Jackson (Republican)

Other statewide offices

The Public Service Commission sets the rates Georgia Power charges customers. All Georgia voters vote on both seats, no matter where they live.

State legislature

You'll also vote for your state House representative and state Senate member. Every seat in the Georgia General Assembly is on the ballot. Your sample ballot at mvp.sos.ga.gov lists the candidates for your district.

The three constitutional amendments

At the end of the ballot are three yes-or-no questions. In the official ballot order:

Amendment 1: Farmland tax break. Raises the maximum farm and timber land one owner can enroll in Georgia's conservation-use property tax break from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres.

Amendment 2: Nonpartisan probate judges. Requires all probate judges to be elected without party labels, like every other judge in Georgia.

Amendment 3: 911 fund. Lets the legislature create a dedicated fund that can be used only to expand, maintain and operate 911 emergency systems, including the upgrade to "Next Generation 911."

For a full explanation of what a YES or NO vote means on each one, read our story: Georgia's 3 Constitutional Amendments on the Nov. 3 Ballot, Explained in Plain English.

Questions?

Muscogee County Elections & Registration
3111 Citizens Way, 2nd floor, Columbus, GA 31906 706-653-4392 columbusga.gov/elections

Georgia Secretary of State voter line: 877-725-9797