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ATLANTA – Today is the first day absentee ballots can be mailed to Georgia voters for the General Primary and Nonpartisan Election set for May 24. To request an absentee ballot, voters can submit a written application to their local county registrar or log onto the office’s “My Voter Page (MVP)” to print the application and mail the completed form to their registrar.
“Through MVP, requesting an absentee ballot has never been easier in Georgia,” stated Secretary of State Brian Kemp. “I was proud to bring this new innovation to our state along with other helpful web-based platforms, such as the online voter registration system and the ‘GA Votes’ smartphone app. Georgia is a national leader in utilizing technologies to educate citizens about elections, voting, and the importance of participation in the electoral process for all levels of government.”
Voters are advised to request absentee ballots before May 20, 2016 to vote by mail in the General Primary and Nonpartisan Election. Under federal law, uniformed military voters are only required to submit one absentee ballot application to receive absentee ballots for an entire election cycle.
Several other important deadlines are fast approaching for Georgians wanting to vote in the May 24 elections. To participate in the General Primary and Nonpartisan Election, Georgia residents who are not already registered to vote must submit a voter registration application by April 26, 2016. You can register to vote using the Secretary of State’s online voter registration system (OLVR), downloading the “GA Votes” smartphone app, or completing a fillable, postage-paid voter registration application to mail to your county registrar by the registration deadline.
Advance in-person voting begins on May 2, 2016. Georgia law also requires the polls to be open on Saturday, May 14 in all 159 counties for Georgians to vote in the May 24 contests.
“The upcoming primary on May 24 provides an important opportunity for Georgia voters to decide which candidates will best represent their interests in Washington, D.C. and at the Georgia State Capitol,” noted Secretary Brian Kemp. “On May 24, voters will also have the chance to vote in the Nonpartisan Election for many judicial offices, including seats on Georgia’s Supreme Court, and other influential offices in local government, including district attorneys, sheriffs, commissioners, and school board members.”
The General Primary Election, Nonpartisan General Election, and Special Runoff Election will be held on May 24, 2016. The General Primary Runoff, Nonpartisan General Runoff Election, and Special Runoff Election Date will be held on July 26, 2016. The General Election will be held on November 8, 2016. The General Election Runoff Date for Local and State Offices will be December 6, 2016. The General Election Runoff Date for Federal Offices (if needed) will be held on January 10, 2017.
The Pike County Voter Registrar, Sandi Chamblin, is requesting that anyone who needs an absentee ballot--including those 75 years or older, disabled, in the military, or going to school or working out of state—-to please come by the office at the Courthouse or call at 770-567-2003. Absentee ballot applications do not roll over from year to year. These applications are good for the entire 2016 election year. Registrar Sandi Chamblin is looking for anyone with military family members that need absentee ballots for this year's elections. Call Sandi's office at 770-567-2003 for more information.