Early voting period not yet set in runoff for Dougherty School Board seat
Early voting starts on Tuesday for Albany municipal elections. Voting will held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. during the three-week voting period.
File Photo: Alan MauldinBy Alan Mauldin
[email protected]
ALBANY — Voters who cast absentee ballots in the July 13 runoff election for a Dougherty County School Board seat probably won’t notice the new security-enhanced ballot paper.
The security paper required for use is one of the provisions of a sweeping voting bill passed earlier this year by Georgia legislators.
For the July 13 runoff, a special election for the District 2 School Board seat, a portion of the law prohibiting outside groups from handing out snacks and drinks also likely will not be noticed.
With only a 9.11 percent turnout in the June 11 special election, there seems little chance that voters will face long lines. Only 892 of nearly 9,800 registered voters turned out in the six-person contest to fill the unexpired term of Milton “June Bug” Griffin, who died in February.
Dougherty County Elections Supervisor Ginger Nickerson said she is preparing for the runoff with hopes that participation will improve in the contest between Norma Gaines-Heath and Alma Noble.
“We have a vendor we contract with, and we know the vendor already has that (security) paper,” she said.
No early voting period has been set yet, as Nickerson’s office is waiting for the state to prepare ballots and voting equipment for the contest.
“The law says it needs to be ‘as early as possible,’” she said of the one-week early voting period required for a runoff.
Residents in District 2 who were not registered to vote in the June 11 election will not be eligible to vote in the runoff, but all registered voters can cast a ballot on July 13, including those who did not vote in the special election.
“We encourage those who voted to return and those who did not to get out and participate,” Nickerson said.
Voters interested in voting by mail may call Nickerson’s office at (229) 431-3247.
The Elections supervisor also encouraged voters whose polling location is at the Driscoll Sports Park, formerly known as the Carver Teen Center, to call if they are unsure whether they are eligible to vote in the July 13 contest.
The polling location is in a split district, meaning that some voters in District 5 vote there as well. Only District 2 voters are eligible to vote in the runoff election.
Author
Related Articles
Who decides elections in Terrell County? Data show older voters dominate turnout as turnout declines
According to the Georgia Secretary of State, 1,731 of Terrell County’s 6,048 active registered voters cast ballots in the May primary, a turnout rate of 28.6%. Four weeks later, only 922 voters participated in the June 16 primary runoff, reducing turnout to 15.2%.
Christie’s Feed & Seed enters new chapter under new ownership
A longtime Dawson business has entered a new era as Riley and Jessie Davis officially assumed ownership of Christie’s Feed & Seed, with the Terrell County Chamber of Commerce marking the transition during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Dawson News grows online with Albany Herald website, Facebook page
Residents can now find Dawson News coverage alongside regional reporting on the Albany Herald’s website while also following breaking news, community events and feature stories through the Dawson News Facebook page.
