Early voting remains in place for May 19 elections

The 2020 General Primary Elections, Nonpartisan General Election and Special Elections remain in place despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andy Holland, registration/election assistant for the Houston County Board of Elections, confirmed Thursday that the May 19 election is still in place as well as early voting. Early voting will start at the Houston County Board of Elections Office on April 27 and go until May 15. The two additional sites set for early voting, Central Georgia Technical College and Houston Healthcare Pavilion, will begin on May 4. Holland said there is one date set of early voting on a Saturday, which is May 9.

“All dates of course are subject to change, but as of right now everything will remain in place,” Holland said. “We have conference calls with the state just about every two days to keep up to date on matters, so if anything changes we will certainly get the information out as soon as possible.”

Holland also explained that the Presidential Primary that was set in March would now be a part of the May 19 elections. Registered voters who casted their ballots during the early voting period in March will be counted, but for those who did will have a combined ballot for the May election.

“So for those who cast their ballots for the Presidential Primary earlier this month will only have one ballot, which is for the General Primary Elections, Nonpartisan General Election and Special Elections,” Holland said. “The others who did not will have two separate ballots for the May 19 election.”

Positions up for election this year in Houston County include: Judge of Probate Court, Clerk of Superior Court, Sheriff, Tax Commissioner, Coroner, Chief Magistrate, Solicitor General, County Commission Posts 3, 4, and 5, and District Attorney. The Nonpartisan positions include Board of Education Districts 1, 3, 5, and Post 7 (At Large).

On the state level for Houston County, Georgia Senate District 20, Georgia House District 146, and Georgia House District 147 are up for election. On the federal level, Georgia United States Senator’s seat, Georgia U.S. Representative Districts 1 and 8 are up for election as well.

Those who are registered to vote will be casting their ballots for the official party representative. For example: If there are two people running as Democrats for a seat and two people running as Republicans; only one will be elected to represent the party for the General Election later in November. Nonpartisan positions, however, will be elected to the seats in May.

For those who are not registered to vote, Holland said the deadline to register remains April 20.

Qualifications to register to vote are:

• A citizen of the United States.

• A legal resident of Georgia and the county in which you wish to vote.

• At least 17 1/2 years old to register and 18 years old on or before Election Day to vote in that election. 

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced earlier in the week that his office is taking unprecedented steps to protect the public health of Georgia voters while also upholding the integrity of the vote. These temporary steps are being made because of the COVID-19 pandemic threatening public health in Georgia and around the world.

Raffensperger also said his office will be mailing absentee ballot request forms to every Georgia voter. The effort is to ensure all Georgians can vote without fear for their health will supplement extra measures to ensure those who rely on in-person voting to access the ballot can do so safely.

“Times of turbulence and upheaval like the one we Georgians face, require decisive action if the liberties we hold so dear are to be preserved,” said Raffensperger. “I am acting today because the people of Georgia, from the earliest settlers to heroes like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Congressman John Lewis, have fought too long and too hard for their right to vote to have it curtailed. Georgia has faced challenges before and overcome them, and we can do so again through the grit and ingenuity that has made America a shining example for democracies around the world.”

In the 2016 and 2018 November elections, around 95% of Georgia voters opted to cast their ballot in person versus the five percent who did so by mail. All Georgia voters can request and vote an absentee ballot for any reason.

Raffensperger will send absentee ballot request forms to the Georgia’s 6.9 million voters in an effort to allow as many Georgia voters as possible to exercise their right to vote without leaving their homes.

While Raffensperger is encouraging as many voters as possible to vote by mail, some rely on in-person voting to exercise their right to vote privately and securely. People without internet or mail access, such as those experiencing homelessness, Georgians who need language assistance, and people with disabilities who rely on voting machines to cast their ballot will still be able to do so in person on the state’s new voting system.

To that end, Raffensperger is taking extra steps to limit the threat of COVID-19 at the polling place. Poll workers will receive additional resources to clean the equipment regularly. In-person voters who show up to vote in person will be instructed to maintain a safe distance when waiting to vote.

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