Voting in Muscogee County: registration, polling places, early voting

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office and the State of Georgia’s 2026 general election page. This page is factual and neutral; we do not endorse candidates or ballot measures.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line by 7 p.m. can vote. Early voting runs Oct. 13-30 at five Columbus sites. The deadline to register for this election was Oct. 5. Questions go to the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office, 706-653-4392.

Who to call

• Elections and Registration Office: 706-653-4392, MuscogeeMail@columbusga.gov; City Services Center, second floor, 3111 Citizens Way; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
• Absentee ballots: MuscogeeAbsentee@columbusga.gov; fax 706-225-4394
• Your registration, polling place and sample ballot: Georgia My Voter Page
• Problems at the polls: the county office first, or the Secretary of State at 877-725-9797

Key dates for the Nov. 3 general election

Dates are from the state’s general election page and the county elections office. Georgia says early voting runs on weekdays and the second and third Saturdays before Election Day, typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays; some sites may also open on Sundays. The county had not posted its exact early voting hours when we checked.

Early voting sites

The Muscogee County Board of Elections and Registration approved these early voting locations. You can vote at any of them, wherever you live in the county:

• City Services Center, 3111 Citizens Way
• Shirley Winston Recreation Center, 5025 Steam Mill Road
• Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center (Columbus State University), corner of East Lindsay and College Drive
• Valley Healthcare, 1600 Fort Benning Road
• Former Georgia Military campus, 7300 Blackmon Road

On Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct. Find it on your My Voter Page or the county’s precinct list.

Registering and updating your address

Georgia requires registration by the fifth Monday before an election, according to the county’s register to vote page. You can register at 17 and a half and vote at 18. Register online with the state or by mail with the postage-paid form. A precinct card arrives by mail; you do not need to bring it to vote.

• Moved within Muscogee County: fill in the back of your precinct card and mail it to the Voter Registration Office, P.O. Box 1340, Columbus, GA 31902-1340, at least 30 days before an election.
• Moved here from another county or state, or changed your name: complete a new registration application.

Photo ID

Georgia law requires a photo ID to vote in person. The county’s in-person voting page lists six accepted forms:

• A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired
• Any valid state or federal government photo ID
• A valid employee photo ID from any branch of federal, state or local government in Georgia
• A valid U.S. passport
• A valid U.S. military photo ID
• A valid tribal photo ID

If you have none, the elections office issues a free Georgia voter ID card. Bring a document with your full legal name and date of birth, proof of your birth date, proof that you are registered and a document with your name and home address.

Voting by absentee ballot

No excuse is needed. Apply online, or send the application form by mail, fax, email or in person, according to the county’s absentee voting page. Georgia accepts applications from 78 to 11 days before Election Day. Your completed ballot must reach the county office before polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day; military and overseas voters have three extra days if the ballot is postmarked by Election Day. Track your ballot on the My Voter Page.

What is on the ballot

Muscogee County voters will see federal and statewide races, including one U.S. Senate seat, governor and lieutenant governor, all General Assembly seats and proposed constitutional amendments. The county posts the 2026 constitutional amendment summaries. Your exact sample ballot is on your My Voter Page.

What this means for you

• Registration for Nov. 3 is closed; check your status on the My Voter Page.
• Vote early at any of five sites from Oct. 13 to 30.
• Absentee applications must arrive by Oct. 23; mail the ballot back early.
• Bring a photo ID; an expired Georgia driver’s license still counts.

Related: who to call at City Hall and moving to Columbus.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I vote early in Columbus, Georgia?

At any of five sites approved by the Muscogee County Board of Elections and Registration: the City Services Center, 3111 Citizens Way; Shirley Winston Recreation Center, 5025 Steam Mill Road; the Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center at Columbus State University; Valley Healthcare, 1600 Fort Benning Road; and the former Georgia Military campus, 7300 Blackmon Road.

When does early voting start in Muscogee County?

Early voting for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election runs Tuesday, Oct. 13, through Friday, Oct. 30, including Saturdays Oct. 17 and 24, according to the state. Check exact hours on the Muscogee County elections website or your My Voter Page.

Is it too late to register to vote in Georgia for November 2026?

Yes. The registration deadline for the Nov. 3 general election was Monday, Oct. 5. You can still register now for later elections.

What ID do I need to vote in Georgia?

A photo ID: a Georgia driver’s license (even if expired), any valid state or federal photo ID, a U.S. passport, a government employee ID, a military ID or a tribal ID. The elections office issues a free voter ID card.

When is the deadline to request an absentee ballot in Georgia?

Applications must be received at least 11 days before Election Day, which for Nov. 3 is Friday, Oct. 23. The completed ballot must reach the elections office before polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.