State Driver Services Reminds Voters: Prepare Now to Vote!

Visit Department of Driver Services (DDS) Early for Photo ID 

To ensure a smooth process when casting a ballot on November 8th, now is the time to ensure you have proper photo identification.

“Don’t wait until Election Day to realize your driver’s license or identification card is missing,” said DDS Commissioner Bert Brantley.  “Tuesdays are always the busiest days at our DDS centers.  Add to that the extra customers who need photo IDs before the polls close, and that is a recipe for significant wait times.”

DDS is planning on deploying additional staff to its busiest centers on Election Day to assist customers as quickly as possible. However, there is no reason to wait until that day. Replacing a lost license, changing an address and checking the best times to visit in person can all be done on the DDS Online Services webpage https://online.dds.ga.gov/onlineservices/ or from the homepage at www.dds.ga.gov.  If you must visit in person, please use the Skip A Step! DDS Online feature to complete and submit your required paperwork before you arrive.  It will save valuable time during your visit.

Poll workers will accept a valid or an expired Georgia driver’s license or State Identification Card  (provided it’s expired no more than one year).  They also will accept the DDS Interim (temporary) license and/or ID which is issued at the center before the laminated card is mailed to you.

However, DDS urges everyone to keep their driver’s license and/or ID Card valid and current – including making any changes to a name or address as soon as possible. For voters who don’t drive or have any other type of acceptable photo identification, DDS can issue a Voter Identification Card for Voting Purposes.  Customers apply in person at any DDS location and present documentation to prove identity, residency and proof of voter registration.

For a list of other acceptable voter identification visit the Secretary of State MyVoter Page (MVP) to review voter requirements, verify that you are a registered voter, locate your assigned polling place and more at www.sos.ga.gov.

For complete driver licensing and testing information, including the online service Skip a Step! please visit the DDS website at www.dds.ga.gov.

(From left to right) Colonel Mark McDonough (DPS), Commissioner Rob Mikell (DDS) and Director Harris Blackwood (GOHS) pose for a photo.

Thousands of Department of Driver Services (DDS) customers are seeing a crucial message about the danger of texting and driving this month as they visit driver’s licensing and testing centers statewide.  DDS Commissioner Rob Mikell, Colonel Mark W. McDonough, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Georgia Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) Director Harris Blackwood have partnered to display messages on center television screens in support of Distracted Driver Awareness Month.

The National Safety Council (NSC) promotes Distracted Driver Awareness Month to focus on the dangers of texting and driving and to ultimately reduce the number of crashes and lost lives.  It is estimated that almost 25 percent of car crashes involve cell phone use.  The agencies partnered to have this important message displayed on the Motor Vehicle Network (MVN) screens installed at 29 DDS’ locations throughout the state.  MVN provides customized information and entertainment to customers waiting to be served at no cost to the state.

“Not only can you damage your driving history with additional fines and points, but you may lose your life.” said Commissioner Mikell.   “I hope DDS customers will take this important message to heart and avoid any distractions while driving.”

Colonel McDonough reminds drivers to plan trips carefully to minimize distractions on the road.  “Anything that diverts your attention from your driving can lead to a traffic crash,” he said.  “Be alert while you travel.”

“Drivers engaged in cell phone conversations are cognitively distracted and can fail to see up to 50 percent of their driving environment including stop signs, pedestrians and red lights,” said Director Blackwood.

Distracted driving is a particular concern for Georgia’s newest drivers, and since July 1, 2010 legislation prohibits texting and all other cell phone use by drivers under the age of 18.  A separate distracted driving law prohibits any age driver from texting while operating a vehicle in Georgia.