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By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - The Board of Elections and Registration asked Chief Registrar Lynn Vickers to reach out to the community to make it aware of changes that are coming in the next election. Citizens can also obtain an identification card at the Board of Elections and Registration Office located in Zebulon beside the Sheriff’s Office.
Obtaining a Voter ID
Citizens can obtain a free voter identification card at the Voter Registar’s Office. This photo ID can be used for voting.
Applicants must bring a birth certificate and a piece of mail with their address on it in order to show proof of their residency.
An employee of the Registrar’s Office will input this information into the system, take a picture of the applicant, and give the applicant a copy of the temporary ID while there in the office.
A permanent card will be sent through the mail.
Please note that if someone has a picture ID from another state entity such as a driver’s license, etc. that person is NOT eligible for a free voter ID.
Changes in Election Laws
Some changes have already been made. The Zebulon, Concord, and Williamson polling locations were changed to their new location, the Board of Elections and Registration went into an agreement with the five cities in Pike County to run the city elections, and the new voting equipment provided by the State of Georgia has been used in elections over the previous year.
Earlier this year, Senate Bill 202 was passed by the Georgia Legislature and was signed by Governor Brian Kemp. There are many changes for future elections.
Absentee ballots will now be required to have a driver’s license number or birth date on the envelope to validate the ballot, and a signature is no longer needed.
Timelines for requesting and returning absentee ballots have also changed as well as absentee ballots now being printed on security paper.
PLEASE NOTE: SB 202 requires that the elderly and disabled make a request for an absentee ballot before EACH election. [Note from the Editor: Prior to the passage of this senate bill, the request was made on an annual basis.]
The drop box that is currently outside of the Registrar’s Office will be moved inside of the advance voting site which is currently the Registrar’s Office. The number of absentee ballots that have been issued, received, and rejected will be posted daily online. The number of provisional ballots that have been issued, received, and rejected will also be posted.
Scanning of absentee ballots can begin on the 3rd Monday prior to the election. And if there is a wait of more than an hour on election day, the precinct must be adjusted or more machines and poll workers added.
One final change of note is that voters will have to travel to their precinct in order to vote on Election Day unless they show up at an incorrect precinct after 5 p.m.
Readers can go here www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20212022/201498 to read the full legislation.
Members of the Board of Registrars
The Board of Elections and Registration is comprised of volunteers chosen by the Pike County Board of Commissioners. It began on July 1, 2019 and is responsible for ensuring that Pike County Elections adhere to state and federal guidelines.
The Probate Judge is no longer in charge of elections in Pike County.
Current members include Chairman Karen Brentlinger, Chris Curry, Joe Parks, Harold O’Baner, and David Brisindine Jr. The Election Superintendent is Lynn Vickers.
Upcoming City and Countywide Elections
There will be an election in the City of Williamson on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 for a vacancy in Post 5 on the City Council due to Brenda Bennett’s resignation. Bunny (Donna) Scoggins and Steve Davis are on the ballot.
Early voting for this City of Williamson race will be held at the Voter Registrar’s Office on August 30 through September 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will also be Saturday voting dates on September 4 and September 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Election Day voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the voting precinct located at 65 Patton St. Williamson 30292.
There will also be an election on November 2, 2021 with city elections and a possible countywide school question. Qualifying for Zebulon (info below) and Williamson, will be August 16 though 18.
Update 10.2.21: The City of Williamson held a special election for City Council Post 5 on September 21, 2021. This election was to fill a vacancy in Post 5 on the City Council due to Brenda Bennett’s resignation. 481 voters could have cast their votes in this election. In the end, 57 voters cast their votes.
Steven "Steve" Davis received 41 votes, and Donna "Bunny" Scoggins received 16. Congratulations to Steve Davis on winning this seat, and thank you to Bunny Scoggins for running for this seat as well.
There will be an election in November to fill Post 2 on the City Council in Williamson. Incumbent Miranda (Randy) Martin is being challenged by Angela Martin. Incumbent John T. (Tom) Brown is unopposed for his Post 3 seat.
Currently on the November ballot is the City of Zebulon General Election for District 1, Council Post 1 (Incumbent William Thomas) and District 2 Council Post 2 (Incumbent Anthony Nalls). Qualifying will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. August 16 through August 18, 2021. The qualifying fee is $35. The last day to register and change address to vote in this election is October 4, 2021.
“If 2 people qualify for posts,” said Election Superintendent Lynn Vickers, “they will have an election.”
She also advised that the ESPLOST question is on the November 2nd ballot.
Update 10.2.21: Incumbent William Thomas is unopposed for the District 1, Council Post 1 seat.
Incumbent Anthony Nalls is being challenged by Emily Morris for the District 2 Council Post 2 seat.
Advanced voting will be Tuesday, October 12 through the 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday voting will be on October 16 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. [Note from the Editor: The advanced voting start date was changed from Monday, October 11 to Tuesday, October 12 because the 11th is a federal holiday.]
Closing
The location of the Registrar’s Office for early voting is 81 Jackson Street in Zebulon, Georgia right next to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office.
Here are the locations for all voting precincts:
Early Absentee Voting 81 Jackson St. Zebulon 30295
Zebulon 7218 US Hwy 19 Zebulon 30295
Williamson 65 Patton St. Williamson 30292
Concord 23 Society St. Concord 30206
Molena 10 Spring St. Molena 30258
Meansville 41 Means St. Meansville 30256
Hollonville 4056 Concord Rd Williamson 30292
Lifsey Springs 8033 Ga Hwy 109 Molena 30258
Second District 1585 Gresham Rd. Zebulon 30295
The Registrar’s Office page located on the Pike County Government page at www.pikecoga.com/registrar has a lot of important information on it. Scroll down from the top for answers to questions about voting as well as who has been elected to both Commission and Board of Education seats here in the county.
https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do is where you can check your voter registration status, register to vote, check your mail-In application and ballot status, and see a sample ballot for elections.
Get educated for future voting opportunities and make your voice heard at the ballot box!